The evergreen Fredrik Johnson says he “may have the longest career in squash history” after winning an astounding 56th Swedish national title.
The 59-year-old won the over-55s trophy at the Swedish Masters in his hometown of Linköping last weekend, bringing his total of national titles in junior, men’s and Masters categories in individual and team events to 56.
His fellow countryman Christian Drakenberg won the O45 and O50 titles. Both Johnson and Drakenberg (pictured above, with Johnson on the right) won their respective age-group titles at the World Masters in Wroclaw, Poland last August and are reigning European champions.
Johnson turns 60 a couple of days before the British Open Masters at Colets Health & Fitness Club in London in June where he will seek to add to his illustrious list of trophies.
As well as his 56 national titles, he has collected two World Masters wins, 12 individual and team European titles, seven British Open Masters triumphs and many more in domestic squash having represented Linköping Squash Club since 1979. He reached a career high if 19 in the world rankings in July 1990.
“I´m very happy for everything the sport of squash has given me,” he told Squash Mad. “I have had the pleasure to play squash in all parts of the world in around 50 different countries.
“From squash I have made friends from all around the world. I have been lucky that I have had very few injuries. Even though I have won lots of titles, I have lost many matches as well, but hopefully I have learned a lot from that.”
Johnson, whose event management company ran the popular Swedish Open on the PSA World Tour for 15 years, added: “It has been a long career – maybe one of the longest in the squash history!
“I have learned a lot about mental work, goal setting and also how come back after losing a match.”
Among his favourite memories are his ‘firsts’ – the national junior title, team championships and men’s title. The latets addition to his cabinet last weekend was also treasured. “It was at my home club and that is always something special to win at home,” he said.
Christan Borgvall, who finished fourth at last August’s World Masters, won the Swedish men’s O50s trophy with former world top-16 player Ulf Söderberg taking the O60s crown. Carl-Johan Löfvenborg took the O35 and the O65 winner was Jan Wictorsson.
In the women’s event, Cajsa Maria Gullin won both the O35 and O50 categories.