Kaj Sjöberg proudly flies Sweden’s flag solo in Shanghai

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT is presented by WIAWIS.

The majority of internationally competing archers when they’re 33 are usually in their prime, with dozens of tournaments under their belt and perhaps even a handful of medals.

Kaj Sjöberg is not most archers.

The Swede admitted that the current Olympic cycle leading to Los Angeles 2028 will likely be his last attempt at archery’s most coveted event. He would be 45 by then, but so far, he’s still putting up the highest scores in Swedish national trials.

Even if he doesn’t qualify for LA, Sjöberg is deeply committed to making sure younger archers can make the jump from national to international competition. The national federation is aiming to bring more youth athletes into its high-performance set-up – and Sjöberg is already leading by example.

He has personally funded a training camp in Slovenia on 31 May, after the Veronica’s Cup, for the rest of his team, alongside recurve woman Erika Jangnas.  

“We will see if they think it’s a good idea, then we will continue,” he explained. “If we don’t get any [sponsors], they will pay for a full camp, but the goal is to have it free for the archers because everything else is expensive. The bows are expensive, the trips, even the competitions.”

When asked if a full-time coaching role might be on the cards, he confirmed it was already in his mind.

“That’s my plan. I don’t know if I’m going to be coaching or [being] team manager.”

Given Sweden’s limited culture in target archery – and his relatively late arrival on the international circuit – Sjöberg is likely to remain an underdog at most outdoor and indoor tournaments until the day he decides to hang up his bow.

But still, the thrill of archery keeps the medical care worker returning to places like Shanghai, which are thousands of miles away and cost thousands of dollars, sometimes without even making the top-64 cut.

On Wednesday, Sjöberg finished 82nd in the 72-arrow qualification round with a score of 629, which means he won’t be featuring in Thursday’s elimination matches.

It would be unfair to pull all pressure on him to replace Magnus Petersson and bag Sweden’s third Olympic medal. But it’s worth noting: Sjöberg was 33 when he was first encouraged to represent Sweden on the world stage.

“I shot a competition and one of the old team captains from way back said that if you want to get in the team, now’s the time, because we didn’t have any at that moment.”

That piece of advice back in 2018 led to three World Championships, eight World Cups and two World Field Championships – his only medal being a gold at Yankton 2022 – making him the most experienced male archer on the current Swedish roster.

That experience is invaluable, especially since Sjöberg is often the nation’s only male recurve athlete at major events. This week in Shanghai, the second stage of the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup, he’s the sole Swedish representative across all categories.

The country has historically favoured field and 3D disciplines, with many young archers starting on barebows rather than recurve or compound.

“I hope we will get men’s and women’s teams because it’s more fun if you share it with someone,” Sjöberg said after Tuesday’s practice at the Yuanshen Sports Centre. “But it’s still fun to shoot and everyone is nice here.”

“I know for 2028 (LA) we want to try get a team – maybe a little bit earlier.”

“It’s hard to say because the ones that are closest to the high scores are almost done with all the studies, so I’m guessing some of them will go to work and then they won’t shoot anymore.”

“So I think we’ll almost get there... and then start over again.”

Sjöberg came close to Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 – just two matches away from becoming the first Swedish male archer at the Olympics since Petersson in Beijing 2008. 

He lost to Iran’s Faez Mohammadizardkhaneh in the third round of the Final Olympic Qualifier. 

Petersson, who won silver at Atlanta 1996, remains Sweden’s last Olympic archery medallist.

But Sjöberg’s legacy isn’t just about results.

The 41-year-old recurve archer continues to proudly fly his nation’s flag – often as a one-man band – in Sweden’s quiet recent history on the shooting line.