Ludmila Engquist and Henrik Johnsson to Give Unique Performance at Linköping Concert & Congress
In September, Ludmila Engquist’s autobiography “Svenskare kan ingen vara” (No One Can Be More Swedish) will be released. The book is co-written with author Henrik Johnsson from Norrköping and journalist Johar Bendjelloul. While Ludmila will be participating in the Gothenburg Book Fair, Linköping residents will have a unique opportunity to hear her and Henrik Johnsson discuss the book at Linköping Concert & Congress on September 26th, the day before the fair.
In her book “Svenskare kan ingen vara”, Ludmila Engquist tells her full story for the first time – from her harsh upbringing in the Soviet Union where she competed in sports to survive, to the involuntary accolades in Sweden and life in exile with a desire to be forgotten. In just a few years, Ludmila Engquist went from being an anonymous foreigner to becoming a postage stamp and being named Swede of the Year. With blue and yellow nails and contact lenses, she made us proud when we won Olympic and World Championship gold in hurdling. She even overcame breast cancer; she was our queen. And then she betrayed us and disappeared.
“The book is not really about sports, we don’t include a single time from any world record or championship. This is a story about who you become when your performance is the only way to a safer and better life. Ludmila ran to survive,” says Henrik Johnsson.
Anders Thorén, event manager at Visit Linköping & Co, says: “Being able to present this lunch lecture to the people of Linköping feels very exciting, as Ludmila is only making one other appearance in connection with the book release, and that’s at the Gothenburg Book Fair. This spring we had Anders Tegnell as a lunch speaker and our ambition is to invite more interesting people in the future.”
The lunch lecture will take place on September 26 at 11:30 AM at Linköping Concert & Congress. Tickets can be booked at visitlinkoping.se.
About the Authors
Ludmila Engquist was born on April 21, 1964 in the former Soviet Union and became a Swedish citizen in 1996. During the 1990s, she was one of the world’s leading female athletes in short hurdles and set several world records both indoors and outdoors. Ludmila Engquist currently resides in Spain.
Henrik Johnsson is a producer for radio and TV, including Summer on P1. He has written the books “GULDET: hästarna, ryttarna och miraklet” (2023), “Sluten” (2022), and co-written autobiographies with Mona Sahlin and Peter Jöback, among others, as well as translated Andre Agassi’s “Open” (2019).
For more information, please contact:
Anders Thorén, Event Manager, Visit Linköping & Co, 070-811 50 81
