Sofia Mattsson
Encyclopedia
Sofia Magdalena Mattsson (born November 11, 1989 in Gällivare
, Norrbotten County
) is a Swedish
wrestler.
. She wrestles in the 48 kilo division for the Gällivare SK Wrestling club, coached by Håkan Johansson and Kalle Taivalsaari. From 2001 to this year, she has won eleven Swedish National Championships (six at cadet level, two at junior level and three at senior level).
In 2007, she competed at the European Championship in Sofia
, her first ever international championship at senior level. Despite her young age and little experience, she won her first match; however, in the following match she was defeated by the Russia
n wrestler Larisa Oorzhak (who went on to win the gold medal).
After the repechage, Sofia defeated her other two opponents and won the bronze medal.
On August 2007, Sofia became Junior World Champion for the second time after she defeated the Japan
ese wrestler Fuyuko Mimura in Bejiing.
On September of the same year, she competed at her first ever World Championship at senior level in Baku
, Azerbaijan
, where she placed 8th, assuring herself qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
On April of this year, the young Swedish wrestler won a silver medal at her second ever European Championship at senior level.
On September of 2009, Sofia won the Senior World Championship in 51 kg.
Gällivare
Gällivare is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 8,480 inhabitants in 2005. The town was founded in the 17th century...
, Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County is the northernmost county or län of Sweden. It borders Västerbotten County to the southwest, the Gulf of Bothnia to the southeast. It also borders the counties of Nordland and Troms in Norway to the northwest, and Lapland Province in Finland to the northeast.The name...
) is a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
wrestler.
Profile
At the age of 18 years old, she is already one of the highest-ranking, female wrestlers in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. She wrestles in the 48 kilo division for the Gällivare SK Wrestling club, coached by Håkan Johansson and Kalle Taivalsaari. From 2001 to this year, she has won eleven Swedish National Championships (six at cadet level, two at junior level and three at senior level).
In 2007, she competed at the European Championship in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, her first ever international championship at senior level. Despite her young age and little experience, she won her first match; however, in the following match she was defeated by the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n wrestler Larisa Oorzhak (who went on to win the gold medal).
After the repechage, Sofia defeated her other two opponents and won the bronze medal.
On August 2007, Sofia became Junior World Champion for the second time after she defeated the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese wrestler Fuyuko Mimura in Bejiing.
On September of the same year, she competed at her first ever World Championship at senior level in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, where she placed 8th, assuring herself qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
On April of this year, the young Swedish wrestler won a silver medal at her second ever European Championship at senior level.
On September of 2009, Sofia won the Senior World Championship in 51 kg.
National results
- 2008 – 1st at the Swedish National Championship
- 2007 – 1st at the Junior Swedish National Championship
- 2007 – 1st at the Swedish National Championship
- 2006 – 1st at the Swedish National Championship
- 2006 – 1st at the Junior Swedish National Championship
- 2006 – 1st at the Cadet Swedish National Championship
- 2005 – 1st at the Cadet Swedish National Championship
- 2004 – 1st at the Cadet Swedish National Championship
- 2003 – 1st at the Cadet Swedish National Championship
- 2002 – 1st at the Cadet Swedish National Championship
- 2001 – 1st at the Cadet Swedish National Championship
International results
- 2009 – 1st at the World Championship in HerningHerningHerning Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in western Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,336 km² and a total population of 84,208...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... - 2008 – 2nd at the European Championship in TampereTampereTampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
, FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... - 2007 – 1st at the Junior World Championship in Bejiing, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
- 2007 – 3rd at the European Championship in SofiaSofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... - 2006 – 1st at the Junior World Championship in GuatemalaGuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
- 2006 – 1st at the Cadet European Championship in TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
- 2005 – 1st at the Cadet European Championship in AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
- 2004 – 1st at the Cadet European Championship in BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
Trivia
- At the European Championship in Sofia, the organizers of the event awarded her with the title "Miss Europe", a prize reserved for the prettiest wrestler at the tournament. However, she refused to accept the prize and commented: "This is not part of the sport. We are here to excel and win at wrestling. There are some people who compete in that other thing too but we don't do that here".