Student at the School of Engineering is awarded elite sports scholarship
Jesper Johansson (at the front), who studies at the School of Engineering and competes in sprint canoeing, is one of 50 students awarded the Swedish Sports Confederation's and Svenska Spel's elite sports scholarship. Behind him in the canoe sits Johan Myrberg. The picture is from the Nordic Championships in Denmark.
Jesper Johansson, who study Mechanical Engineering: Product Development and Industrial Design at the School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University (JU), is one of the Swedish Sports Confederation's (Riksidrottsförbundets) and Svenska Spel's elite sports scholarship holders for 2023-2024.
Jesper Johansson trains at the Swedish Canoe Association's Elite Center JKPG and does two or three canoe sessions per day in Munksjön.
“A great honour and a bit of a surprise. You never expect to be the recipient of a scholarship that is only awarded to 50 students in the country,” says Jesper Johansson, who competes in canoe sprint.
Jesper Johansson trains at the Swedish Canoe Association's Elitscenter JKPG and during 2023 has represented Sweden at several international competitions, such as the Junior & U23 WC in canoe sprint in Auronzo, Italy. He competes for Karlstad Paddlarklubb and is selected for the Swedish Canoe Association's U23 training group for 2023/24. His long-term goal is the 2028 Olympics.
SEK 50,000 scholarship
The elite sports scholarship is SEK 50,000 spread over two semesters, autumn 2023 and spring 2024.
“It will be very significant for my investment in the sport and the money will be used for camp costs, materials, and everyday expenses,” says Jesper Johansson.
He and the other canoeists at JU have the rowing club's docks at Munksjön as starting point. He practices two or three canoe sessions per day and around 20 hours a week.
Friends Arena
Jesper Johansson enjoys studying at JTH and points out that he has tested the school's elite sports support to the max when he was away for 14 weeks last year at camps and competitions.
“That can make it difficult to keep up with school, but many teachers have large parts of their course material and lectures online, which makes it easier when you miss entire courses,” he says.
The elite sports scholarship is awarded at the Swedish Sports Gala on 22 January next year at Friends Arena in Stockholm.
Facts
The elite sports scholarship, which is awarded to 50 athletes in Sweden each year, is a collaboration between the Swedish Sports Confederation's (RF) and Svenska Spel and should enable the athletes to combine elite sports and studies after high school. With the Elite Sports Scholarship, RF and Svenska Spel hope to be able to create good conditions for the athletes so that Swedish sports can achieve more sporting successes internationally. At the same time, they want to provide better conditions for those active in an elite sport at national team level to have a good life both during and after their sports career.
