- The Old Country
- Posts
- The Old Country Newsletter – Pole Vaulting over the Ocean
The Old Country Newsletter – Pole Vaulting over the Ocean
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden
Philip Gustavsson
April 26, 2024
Good morning!
It’s Friday, the 26th of April. I hope you have had a great week so far. First of all, I want to thank all of you whoread last weeks newsletter. I hope you found it informative and enjoyable.
This week, the newsletter contains stories about the Swedish-American pole-jumper Armand Duplantis who secured a new world-record last week, critique that has been directed at the Swedish ministry of defence, and much more. As always: it also features a story from our shared past.
Do you enjoy the newsletter? Please share it with friends and families to make sure that more people have the opportunity to share stories from their families. Perhaps they have relatives or acquintances that emigrated and have a story that deserves to be told.
Have a splendid weekend.
Philip
Did you get this newsletter sent to you from someone you know? Click on the button below to subscribe for yourself. All you risk is to learn something (perhaps even about yourself.)
Home is where one starts from.
My personal favorite book-series of all time is The Emigrants, by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. Through the four books in the series, we get to follow the triumphs and tribulations of early Swedish immigrants in America. In the first book, "The Emigrants," we meet Karl Oskar, Kristina Nilsson, their three children, and eleven others who set out from Småland in 1850, seeking a better life away from poverty, religious persecution, and social injustice.
By clicking here, you can learn more about the books and order a copy for yourself. Beyond getting your hands on an incredible book, it is also a great way to show support for this newsletter, as a few cents of each sale will help support our work.
Statistics you didn’t ask for
Did you know that approximately 700 000 Swedes live abroad? And can you guess which country is most popular for our expats?
That’s right, the USA.
A whopping 27 % have made the trip over the Atlantic, which amounts to about 179 000 individuals.
Fun fact: an estimate concludes that there are Swedes in 177 of the world’s approximately 200 countries.
A new world record for our favorite American-Swede
Armand Duplantis, a dominant force in pole vaulting in recent seasons, kicked off the 2024 outdoor season with a bang, setting a new world record at the Diamond League gala in Xiamen, China.
Armand Duplantis was born in November of 1999 in Lafayette, Louisiana, to the American former pole vaulter Greg Duplantis and his wife, the Swedish citizen, Helena Duplantis. He began pole vaulting at the age of four. Given his dual citizenship, he was contacted by the Swedish Athletics Federation during his early career. After some persuasion, Duplantis decided to represent his mother’s birth-country (and as we have given so many incredible Swedes to the USA throughout the years, perhaps you could let us have this one …?).
Last weekend, Armand Duplantis secured another world record while competing in China. Duplantis expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I can't complain." He effortlessly cleared his first three jumps at 5.62, 5.82, and 6.00 meters, prompting him to challenge the world record height of 6.24 meters, which he achieved comfortably. Duplantis attributed his success to good form, ample rest to overcome jet lag, and favorable weather conditions.
After securing his eighth career world record, Duplantis described the overwhelming emotions he experiences, likening the sensation to losing one's mind and entering a euphoric state upon clearing the bar. His previous world record was set in September the previous year in Eugene, USA. Duplantis looks forward to his next Diamond League event in China on April 27, with the ultimate goal of competing in the Paris Olympics in August looming ahead.
In other news
Former Moderate Party leader Anna Kinberg Batra faces criticism from both political opponents and party members for alleged favoritism and poor leadership as the governor of Stockholm County, particularly for appointing personal friends to high-ranking positions without proper announcements or procedures, leading to calls for her resignation.
Two children were found dead in a home in Södertälje on Tuesday evening. The tragedy occurred in a residential area with townhouses, apartments, and playgrounds, with many neighbors expressing sorrow and heartbreak. Two adult family members of the children have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The Swedish Ministry of Finance has released a series of tax proposals for feedback ahead of the 2025 budget. The proposals include reduced taxes on income, pensions, and air travel, and are motivated by "The economic situation, reform space, and financing needs", according to the Swedish Ministry of Finance.
Swedish Government Calls for Clarity Amidst Air Force Incident off Gotland Coast
In response to a recent operation off the coast of Gotland described as “urgent but routine” by the Swedish Armed Forces, the government has called for clearer communication regarding the incident.
The Air Force’s incident preparedness, which remains on standby 24/7 to identify and investigate foreign objects near Sweden’s borders, came under public focus following an operation last weekend. Loud bangs were heard over the skies of the island of Gotland. Despite assurances that no breach of Swedish territory occurred, specifics triggering the operation were not disclosed. Instead, the Armed Forces gave different explanations to the operation.
"The third version in just over a day. First, practice, then we defend our borders, and now a clarification that our airspace has not been violated," wrote Johan Wiktorin, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences, on X.
Criticism of unclear communication surrounding the incident prompted the government to seek clarification from the Armed Forces. Defense Minister Pål Jonson emphasized the importance of maintaining readiness to safeguard Swedish airspace while addressing concerns over transparency.
In response, the Air Force defended its communication approach, stating that not every operation is publicly disclosed. They reiterated that such operations are part of routine duties for pilots, air surveillance personnel, and technicians.
As the government continues to engage with the Armed Forces on this matter, the incident underscores the delicate balance between national security imperatives and the public’s right to information.
Word of the week
SKUMT
The man that never died
One of the most famous Swedish emigrants, not just in the U.S but also in the country he left, was a man Joel Emmanuel Hägglund. Or, as posterity will remember him, Joe Hill.
The tale of Joe Hill begins in the quaint town of Gävle, Sweden, where he was born in 1879. Raised in a working-class household, Hill’s formative years were marked by hardship and toil. Like many of his compatriots, he witnessed firsthand the economic disparities and social injustices that plagued turn-of-the-century Sweden.
Driven by a desire for a better life, Hill set his sights on the promise of America. In 1902, at the age of 23, he embarked on a journey across the Atlantic, joining the waves of Swedish emigrants seeking refuge and opportunity in the New World. Landing on American shores, Hill found himself swept into the whirlwind of industrial America, where the clamor of factories and the plight of the working class would shape his destiny. His first years in the new country are more or less undocumented. But he would make up for it.
Hill’s immersion into the labor movement was swift and profound. Inspired by the fervor of the times and the burgeoning call for workers' rights, he embraced the ethos of solidarity and collective action. As a prolific songwriter and impassioned orator, Hill lent his voice to the cause, composing stirring ballads that resonated with the struggles of his fellow workers.
However, Hill's advocacy would ultimately lead him down a path fraught with peril. In 1914, he found himself embroiled in a controversy that would seal his fate. Accused of a double murder in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hill was arrested and subjected to a trial rife with prejudice and injustice. Despite international pleas for clemency and doubts surrounding his guilt, Hill was convicted and sentenced to death.
On November 19, 1915, Joe Hill faced his final moments with stoic resolve. He stood before a firing squad. When the man who led the firing squad called out the sequence of commands preparatory to firing ("Ready, aim,") Hill shouted, "Fire—go on and fire!" As the shots rang out, Joe Hill's legacy was cemented in the annals of history—a martyr to the cause of labor. Hill's body was cremated; in accordance with Hill’s wishes. His ashes were then placed into 600 small envelopes and sent around the world to be released to the winds.
Would you like to see something else in the newsletter? Do you have suggestions for topics? Or do you have a story from the past that you would like to share? Please reach out!
Was this not for you? Not to worry, and – ta hand om dig!