You know you're good when you represent Sweden in table tennis. The unassuming Scandinavian land with fewer people than Ohio has somehow become the most consistent threat to China's dominance. While peaking in the 80s and 90s, they remain relevant. Mattias Falck reached the men's singles finals of last year's World Championships, making Swedish hearts flutter with hope yet again. In the new millennium, one Swedish woman has been steadily rising in the ranks. While not exactly a child prodigy, Matilda Ekholm methodically trudged her way from #200 in the world to the top 20 over two decades of dogged dedication. Over that span, she has racked up seven Swedish singles championships. Ekholm is noted for her playing style, her mid-range power-looping game more in keeping with the habits of modern male players, as opposed to the rapid-fire, off-the-bounce counterdriving employed by most top women. "My first years, I only practiced with men, or boys, I should say, and actually way into my teenage years I kept playing with mostly boys," explains Ekholm. "We don't have many female players in Sweden, so it wasn't until I was over twenty that I started practicing with women. "It always felt more natural for me to hit the ball at a later stage and also I was never fast enough to keep up with the tempo closer to the table, so I had to find my own solution to that," she elaborates. "My game is uncomfortable for many women as they aren’t used to that style." Speaking of discomfort, Ekholm was always visibly distressed when losing. While no one would call her a bad sport, the fierce competitor did not exactly have a poker face when things did not go her way. "I am a sore loser," she freely admits. "It's not something I'm really proud of, but I should say it's never directed toward anyone else, it's just, I'm blaming myself and I get frustrated." While her competitive fire might sometimes get the best of her, she also learned to focus its power to both Sweden's and her own advantage. "I also play my best when I'm a little angry but also have some calm to my madness," she explains, "always trying to find that balance." Now at age 37, her world ranking of #37 is still tops among Swedish women. She has, however, chosen this juncture to hang up her paddle. After being the face of Swedish table tennis for decades, she will stay connected to her homeland and the next generation of players. "I hope I can support them somehow to keep pursuing their dreams," she says. With her career as a professional table tennis player behind her, she now looks forward to finishing her degree in sports science at Sweden's Halmstad University. If you are looking to hire a seasoned pro with STEM skills, Matilda Ekholm (@matiekholm on Instagram) is ready, willing and able, saying, "I welcome any and all job opportunities, help and advice!" Heading west to live with her partner in New York, Matilda is indeed waltzing off into the sunset.

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