Can anybody beat the Linköping Lion?
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
Fredrik Johnson made it 50 national titles after a double triumph in the over-40 and over-50 Swedish Masters finals at the weekend.
The 52-year-old Swede reached a career-high position of 19 in the July 1990 rankings. During this phase of his career he won several Swedish national men’s titles, and he has continued this success through to the various Masters categories, beginning with his first over-35 title in 1999, when he also won the British Open over-35 title in Aberdeen.
Johnson said: “I am delighted to reach 50 Swedish national titles. I don’t know, but maybe this is some kind of record in the world of squash, or maybe just Europe.”
The 50 official Swedish National titles (individual and team events) are as follows:
– 6 times Swedish National Champion , seniors
– 17 times Swedish National Team Champions (all 17 times for Linköping Squash Club, where Fredrik has played throughout his career)
– 1 time Swedish national champion, juniors
– 26 times Swedish National Champion, Masters
Fredrik’s 26 Swedish titles are as follows:
Over-35: 11 titles
Over-40: 8 titles
Over-45: 4 titles
Over-50: 3 titles
Total: 26
He won the first title (over-35s) in 1999.
Other Masters successes include:
6 times winner of British Open Masters
4 times winner of the European Championships Masters (he has won each of the four times it has been played, starting officially in 2009 and then also in 2011, 2013 and 2015)
Swedish National Championships 2016, Landala Squash, Gothenburg.
Men’s over 40 final:
Fredrik Johnson (Linköping Squashklubb) beat Joachim Nilsson (Karlstad Squashklubb) 11-2, 11-3, 11-6
Men’s over 50 final:
Fredrik Johnson beat Lennart Niklasson (Team Gothenburg) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4
FOOTNOTE: If any readers know of any other players with similar records, feel free to comment below. Thank you.