I cannot imagine my life without Sport. Since the earliest memory I had, no matter if I was commentating on horse racing or representing my country in the world martial arts championships, I have nothing but the fullest of respect for all who have competed in competitive sport in any shape or form.
Regardless of the sport we identify with it in whatever way we want to. Pretending to be John McEnroe winning the match point at Wimbledon, or scoring a goal in the world cup final as Zidane. We have those moment‘s to aspire to in life because as humans we are all competitive regardless if we want to admit or not.
There are superstars in sports that will leave a legacy behind. Muhammad Ali, Usain Bolt, Pele, Ayrton Senna, Jessie Owens, Ed Moses, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova the list is almost endless. Yet there are some people that stand above all.
The name Linda Sällstrom may not be known to many. Yet she has a story that needs to be told. Let me get one thing straight, this is not a sympathy story. Linda is a world-class football player. She has played for Finland and scored 26 goals in 55 games, very impressive. Still only 26 she should be in the best form of her life. Alas, every cloud can be followed by a thunderstorm.
But this thunderstorm has a rainbow.
In all my life, I never want to see any competitive player get injured in any sport. Some, like David Busst, suffer life changing injuries, some are forced to retire. Yet Linda takes the word recovery to the next level.
In three years, Linda has suffered three ACL (
Anterior cruciate ligament) injuries. This almost makes an athlete or sportsperson unable to walk. Eight months recovery each year. I have researched this in depth and I know that there are several sports people that have had three ACL’s in their career, but none (that I am aware of) have ever had three in three years.
Linda is a pure inspiration.
This is not a sad story with a sad end.
This is a story of the most resilient and self-believing athlete I think the world has ever seen. I had two ACL’s in 1994 and 1998 and both were the hardest period of my life. For Linda to have ACL’s in 2012, 2013, 2014 makes it all the more phenomenal.
Linda is now back in full training. Part of me never wants to see her play again, part of me will be screaming like a girl at a One Direction concert when she does.
Her story has made me write a movie. Her legacy should be written in a book that will sell millions.
I have never seen such determination in a human being. If you did not know the name Linda Sällstrom then, you do now. She is the most amazing person I can describe. Doing it for the love of the game, doing it for the love of wanting to overcome all obstacles in life and proving all doubters wrong.
All together now!
“There is only one Linda Sällstrom, one Linda Sällstrom. Walking along singing a song, wailing in a Linda Wonderland!”
World class legend
