Fresh from his historic victory as Europe’s first Grand Smash champion, Truls Moregard has been awarded the prestigious “Årets Skåning 2025” (Person of the Year for Skåne 2025), recognising his outstanding contributions to sport and his role as an inspiration for young people across southern Sweden. The honour comes just a year after his historic silver medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which elevated him to global stardom.
The award presentation created one of the most memorable moments, taking place immediately after Moregard delivered his stunning victory over world number one Lin Shidong at a packed Malmö Arena.
With the arena still reverberating from his thrilling triumph, Moregard received this prestigious regional honour. “It means an incredible amount,” said Moregard of receiving the recognition, which demonstrates that not just the arena crowd, but the entire Skåne region was cheering him on to victory.
The award, presented by Kvällsposten newspaper in partnership with the Flag Foundation, celebrates individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Skåne region. Moregard was selected from a competitive field of six nominees through public voting, demonstrating the widespread admiration for his achievements both on and off the table tennis court.
The award ceremony saw Maria Rydhagen, Editor of Kvällsposten, present Moregard with a unique diploma created by artist Harriet Ståhlberg, his own Skåne flag, and flowers. As part of the honour, Moregard’s portrait will hang in the arrivals hall at Malmö Airport throughout the coming year.
“I have always felt at home in Skåne. From the second I moved here,” said the player, who was born in Hovmantorp in Småland but has called Skåne home since he was twelve years old. The regional honour perfectly captures the deep connection between Moregard and the place that has supported his journey from promising junior to Grand Smash champion.
Reflecting on his breakthrough at Paris 2024, Moregard acknowledged the scale of Olympic competition: “I thought it would be big, but it was 100 times bigger than I ever thought.” His emotional style of play, which captivated audiences worldwide, stems from his philosophy that “for me, sport is about emotions. I get better by showing emotions.”
His remarkable 2025 season has been defined by consistent excellence at the sport’s biggest events. Earlier this year, he claimed bronze at the ITTF World Championships in Doha. He then carried that momentum into his home triumph at Europe Smash, giving fans an emotional conclusion to the inaugural event in Malmö. This recognition adds to Moregard’s growing collection of accolades, cementing his status not just as a world-class table tennis player, but as a role model whose impact extends far beyond the sporting arena into the heart of Swedish society.