Karl Olle Viktor Lundqvist (Brunflo, Sweden, 1999) started playing basketball at the age of five for family reasons. His father, mother and sister are also professionals. At 19 he packed his bags. He went from the cold and snow of his country to the cold and humidity of Bierzo. After a few months in the EBA League with Ponferrada, he landed in the LEB Oro with Canoe. He also went through Palma and Oviedo before settling in A Coruña with Leyma. He is one of the heroes of the ACB promotion.
Olle is a happy and simple man from the farm, a Viking when he jumped into the court, almost unconscious, who accompanied everyone to the ring, as if his shoulder had never been dislodged, a recurring injury in his career, for which he underwent surgery last summer. Now recovered, in the last two games he appeared in the starting five, the victory in Lleida and the defeat at home against Manresa. All strength, discipline and sacrifice, he is not afraid of the stars of the League: “There is no god, only basketball.”
How do you feel physically?
Now I am better, working hard every day, I feel more comfortable and can use both arms normally. I’m not 100%, but I’m getting there.
In the summer he had almost no vacations: the shoulder operation, the recovery, the side training…
It was very difficult, especially mentally. I stay here, far from my family, but thank God with my boyfriend, who helped me a lot. It was difficult because I didn’t have a normal preseason and I couldn’t help the team the way I wanted. I needed my first four-five games to get my feeling back, but now I’m better.
I’m better physically, but I need to get a little more confidence in my shoulder
Do you feel any discomfort in your left shoulder?
No, during the games I was fine but I needed to get a little more confidence in my shoulder.
Diego Epifanio lined him up as the starter in the last two games.
Now that I’m physically better I can help the team more, especially in defense, with the best players in the teams, and also make my plays on offense. I have more confidence and Epi trusts me more. Slowly.
Do you like to defend the League stars?
Defense is one of the best things I have and I think I can help the team a lot with that. It’s fun.
What are the main differences found between LEB Oro and ACB?
Very different. In ACB, everything is more difficult, there are very good players, more physical and more one-on-one in the whole field, but it’s just basketball, there is no God.
Saturday’s game against Manresa was difficult, because of their contacts, one stick or another, but both teams ended up with the same fouls. Are you missing the rigor of the referee?
For me yes, but it is difficult for referees to decide the level of contacts. Some games are more difficult, some are more basketball and tactical things, like that…
They brought you to their land, what do you need to be closer?
I thought we were there. We had a bad day, but if we play a little better I think we can beat them.
The shooting guard faces his third season in A Coruña | Javier Albores
Last Saturday they played Girona, the last classified in the ACB. Is a win worth twice as much?
Obviously it’s a very important game and has added value, but it’s not easy because it’s away from home and they have very good players.
Three wins in ten games. Do they account for permanence?
Not now. It’s so easy. We don’t talk about whether we need twelve or how many wins. We are game by game. We only think about winning the next one.
After Girona comes three in a row at home: Joventut, Bilbao and Valencia.
There are three key games, like the one in Girona, to see where we are in the league. For me it’s perfect to play at home, I love being in A Coruña, it’s my favorite city in Spain and I don’t want to leave here. And playing in front of this crowd was amazing. Without them we cannot beat Real Madrid. They are there every day and help us a lot.
You say A Coruña is your favorite city, why?
Perfect for me. Big, but not too big, very beautiful, people are very friendly, I love the food…
He arrived in Spain six years ago. Do you miss your country so much?
Yes, sometimes, especially at Christmas, for family and friends. Also the snow because I live in the mountains and it is part of my daily life. But I’m very happy here, I’m with my boyfriend and my family visits us three or four times a year.
Does he look like an ACB player?
Yes, this is my goal since I arrived in Spain.
Lima is an important player for us, we just had bad luck
And what is your goal now?
Stay with Leyma Coruña in ACB.
He is the youngest player in the squad, does that mean something special?
It’s my third year as the youngest and for me it’s normal. I can learn a lot about the hard work of daily life for veterans. It is very important to have a long career.
On Saturday they said goodbye to the track board. How does his departure affect them?
It’s a little sad because they are so nice. The president and the board are wonderful people, but I’m sure the following will be excellent. I’m not worried.
Yes, he will be worried about the absence of Gus Lima.
Yes, we are unlucky. Especially since he was injured at the start of the game against a team like Manresa, very physical. He is a very important player for us: a veteran, who knows the league and helps us a lot in rebounding.
And in the locker room?
Yes, he is very funny, crazy (laughs).