27 Aug 2009 at 20:33 | Published by: Hans | Views: 15275 | News search

Jonas Gustafsson in a tricky situation at lane 3 in the SD of the final against Filiph Svensson.  (Photo by Hans Bergström 2009)

Interview with Jonas Gustafsson (JG), Sweden and Jönköping BGK

This interview was done the 26th of August 2009. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to the World Championship gold title in Odense last weekend. Have you been able to get back to any form of normal life yet?

JG: Thank you very much! Yes, I started to work again Monday morning but it was very easy to get up and work after that weekend!

HB: What happened after the title? Have there been lots of media interests and celebrations?

JG: Yes, really a lot! I have got a lot of congratulations from friends, other Minigolfers and customers at work.

There have also been a lot of media-interests here in my town, Jönköping. A big article in the newspaper and two radio-interviews.

HB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself to those who don’t know you. Who is Jonas Gustafsson?

JG: I am soon to be 26 years old. I live in Jönköping and that is also my home club.

I have played Minigolf since 1997 and love the sport mostly because of the “competition-moments”. I work as a sales representant and live together with Maria Olsson (6th place in WC2009).

HB: Short questions:

JG:

Profession: Sales representant

Year of birth: 1983

Start of Minigolf career: 1997

Make of club: Nifo steel

Favourite ball: Old Classic 1

Favourite surface: Eternite

Technical tip: Be patient, watch other good players and don’t be afraid to ask them about tips.

HB: So back to Odense. How was the feeling in the final KO-rounds? Were you nervous or did you feel confident in wining all matches?

JG: The strange thing is that I was not nervous at all in the KO-rounds, but very nervous in the first day of the tournament when there was no actual reason. In the KO-rounds I had a very good mental feeling and even when 2 matches were even after 18 lanes, I somewhere felt that I should win.

Actually I dreamed in the night before the KO-finals that I won the WC, and for once, a dream really came true.

HB: Which was the toughest match you played in the KO-rounds?

JG: No one of my 5 matches were easy, everybody was very tough with 17-18 lanes played, but the toughest was of course in the final against Filiph Svensson, when we played sudden death in 5 lanes. But that was also the funniest 

HB: You also won with your team Sweden. What do you value the highest, individual or the team gold?

JG: Before and during the practice and the first 3 days of competition the only thing that’s important is the team-competition. But after that the individual competition starts. It’s like two different tournaments so hard to compare.

Now, with some distance, I must say I value the individual gold highest. We were clear favorites in team but I have never won any medal individually.

HB: There has been much discussion on the Internet about the new KO modus played in the individual finals at international championships. What is your opinion about the KO-modus in general?

JG: From the first day I heard about the coming KO-system I have said I liked it because I know I´m quite good in that kind of play. I also think that KO is the most exiting kind of play (look at this year’s finals).

But I also understand the big amount of players that don´t like the KO and for me it´s no problem with going back to stroke-play. But what I don´t understand is a very common argument: “In KO the best player never win”. For me the best player always wins, the question is what is a good player? In KO you have to be best when it really matters, and in strokes best over a long time. If we play KO, we must change that focus!

HB: Who do you think would have won in Odense if the old (stroke play) modus would have been played instead with another 4 rounds on Saturday?

JG: I think C-J Ryner would have won. But it´s difficult to say because there are a few players that maybe would have played better in the preliminary rounds if they also was counted in the individual competition.

HB: What is your next goal when it comes to Minigolf?

JG: My next goal is EC 2009 with my club BGK Jönköping. We were second last year and hope to compete about the title with Uppsala, Hardenberg and the others.

HB: The world championships next time in 2011 will be held in Stockholm. Will we be able to see you participate there?

JG: I really hope so! A WC in Sweden would have been really fun to play! But mostly it depends on my work-situation. This year there were fewer days and then it´s much easier to get free from work. But maybe it´s a little bit more easy next time, now when I am World Champion 

HB: Now to the final and most important question. How do you spell your family name? Is it "f" or v""?

JG: Haha….it´s with “f”

HB: Again a big congratulation to the WC title and good luck in the future.

JG: Thank you very much, Hans!

SHARE Share Tweet