Talent development in Swedish athletics

Swedish athletics is facing an important choice in 2025 with strategies aimed at developing both talent and grassroots engagement. With new guidelines for education and training, the federation wants to create opportunities for more people to reach their full potential regardless of background, age and level of ambition. Behind these initiatives is a strong belief that athletics should be a sport for life and be perceived as modern, inclusive and inspiring for today's and tomorrow's athletes. The vision is for growth and attractiveness to permeate everything from club environments to forms of competition, digitalisation and leadership. The association wants to see participation increase throughout the country, at different ages, in both small and large clubs and in all sports. In practice, the strategy involves a number of new projects that will stimulate innovation, cooperation with schools, strengthen the running programme and provide increased services directly to the clubs.

Talent development as a tool for inclusion

The Athletics 2025 strategy document emphasises the importance of accessibility and inclusive environments. To inspire young talent, clubs and associations are investing in offering modern forms of training, flexible programmes and more competition opportunities throughout the country. One concrete tip is to start with different training groups based on individual goals and conditions instead of strict age or performance. This will give more people the chance to develop at their own pace and feel motivated.

When live betting becomes available at Swedish championships online, young athletes can simultaneously see their efforts followed and valued by a wide audience, and it strengthens the feeling of belonging to a larger endeavour. Statistics from the Swedish Sports Confederation show that the number of active young people is declining slightly, especially among older teenagers. To counteract this, several initiatives have been initiated, including local training programmes that allow young people to try out different sports before choosing a specialisation. For older active people, training programmes that combine physical activity and social interaction are recommended, such as running groups and open technique sessions.

Training and mentoring get results

During the year, Swedish Athletics introduced national training courses aimed at young leaders and coaches, with a focus on mentoring programmes. Clubs are actively seeking out former elite athletes who can act as sources of inspiration and sounding boards for the next generation. By organising lectures and training days where stars of the day meet the talents of tomorrow, creating a vibrant culture that passes on experience and builds networks. For organisations that lack the resources for these large-scale training initiatives, digital platforms are a good idea, as many training courses are offered online and via interactive forums.

Competitions and visibility in focus

One stated goal for the 2025 athletics year is to build on competition programmes but also to reach out widely with inspiring content about athletes, leaders and associations. Clubs that actively publicise their successes on social media see both increased interest and more new recruits. One concrete tip is to organise mini-competitions locally where everyone can participate, while the biggest championships are streamed for inspiration and role modelling.
National and international championships act as showcases for Swedish talent. At the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025, as many as 35 Swedes will participate, more than ever before, which shows the positive effect of investing in breadth and talent in the long term

Swedish athletics' investment in talent development in 2025 is based on inclusion, education and new forms of competition. By combining tradition with innovation and emphasising personal networks, social values and modern training concepts, good conditions are created for more people to want and dare to invest in athletics.