History

Few Racketlon tournaments - or even sports events in general - can boost a prouder history than Gothenburg Racketlon Open. This is the tournament that launched Racketlon internationally. Nothing less.

During the first three years of its existence Gothenburg Open enjoyed World Championship status. In 2001 it was the first international event in the history of Racketlon. In 2002 it was the first official World Championship - as recognized by the then newly established International Racketlon Federation. In 2003 it was again recognized as the official Racketlon World Championship and, in addition, the peak of the first Racketlon World Tour with eight tournaments in six countries. In 2004 it retired from World Championship status but still attracted the world's top racketletes that came to win an event of exceptional prestige on classic Racketlon ground, which has also been the case in more recent years. In 2008 Gothenburg Open is held for the Eighth consecutive year.

To win Gothenburg Racketlon Open is a dream for most top racketletes and normally implies a position at the very top (i.e. no.1!) of the World Ranking. These are the previous Winners of the Open classes:

2001 (World Champions)
Men's Open: Mikko Kärkkäinen, Finland
Ladies' Open: Katja Aminoff, Finland
Men's Veteran O45: Harri Peltola, Finland

Eliasson in 2001. Focussed favourite.

2001. Finland's big surprise, the 21-year-old Mikko Kärkkäinen (right), emerges from nowhere and beats the big favourite to win (Eliasson) in the quarterfinal. Marking the start of a rivalry that is still, 7 years later, continuing at full strength. This was Finland's event with victories in all three major classes. Full report.

2002 (World Champions)
National Team Event: Sweden
Men's Open: Magnus Eliasson, Sweden
Ladies' Open: Lilian Druve, Sweden
Men's Veteran O45: Harri Peltola, Finland

The elite medalists at the 2002 World Open. Eliasson's and Druve's first (of three - so-far) World Championship titles. Five Swedes and one Finn on the podium. The event also included the first World Championship for national teams. Full report.

2003 (World Champions)
National Team Event: Sweden
Men's Open: Magnus Eliasson, Sweden
Ladies' Open: Lilian Druve, Sweden
Men's Veteran: Pär Carleke, Sweden

2003 Elite medalists. Eliasson's and Druve's reign continued. The podium still dominated by Scandinavia. Full report (including an account of the state of racketlon at that time).

2004
Men's Open: Roland Helle, Sweden
Ladies' Open: Sarah McFadyen, Scotland
Men's Veteran: Ulf Bredberg, Sweden

2004. New Champions. Roland Helle takes the title on the Men's side for the first time and, in the ladies' event, there is a new queen; Scotland's Sarah McFadyen! Full report.

2005
Men's Open: Magnus Eliasson, Sweden
Ladies' Open: Silke Altmann, Germany
Men's Veteran: Ulf Bredberg, Sweden

Eliasson i back on top of the podium together with a rapidly improving Scottish challenger; Calum Reid. An inspired German, Silke Altmann, wins the ladies' class! Full report.

2006
Men's Elite: Christian Wall, Sweden
Ladies' Elite: Lilian Druve, Sweden
Men's Junior: Alexander Ebata, Sweden
Men's Veteran: Ulf Bredberg, Sweden
Men's Doubles: Christian Wall/Henrik Håkansson, Sweden
Mixed Doubles: Jutta Schaub/Oliver Kudicke, Germany
Full report.

2007
Men's Elite: Christian Wall, Sweden
Ladies' Elite: Lilian Druve, Sweden
Men's Junior U21: Johan Hagelqvist, Sweden
Men's Veteran O45: Peter Bittár, Sweden
Men's Doubles: Christian Wall/Henrik Håkansson, Sweden

Who will be the winners at the 2008 Gothenburg Open? To get an idea about what to expect, you may want to go to the tournament entry list and click the "Rank" heading (this will order all entrants in world ranking order).