For some, sport is a mix of practise and play, a leisure activity and a hobby that’s fun and rewarding. Some even make a career of it and approach it with strict professionalism. And then there are those for whom sport is their entire identity, a lifestyle and, in fact, a life necessity. Ricky Landgraff is exactly that kind of athlete.
For him, sport and exercise are essential, shaping and developing him both on and off the pitch or in the gym. Ricky is 33 and lives in Trångsund, a few miles south of Stockholm. He works as a flagpole installer and he’s just moved into his new house, where he feels completely at home.
“I graduated from Berga Upper Secondary School of Natural Resource Use in 2011. It’s what’s called an adapted school, and I studied Parks & Environment there. The day after I graduated, I started my job at Flaggstångsspecialisten and I’ve worked there ever since,” Ricky says.
Although Ricky enjoys his job, sport and training are his greatest passions. He has tried everything from football and horse riding to archery and floorball. But it’s handball, CrossFit and cross-country skiing that he’s most passionate about and focused on. And it’s this passion that has led to Ricky’s major sporting successes. How about a silver medal in handball at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2015? A fantastic achievement that Ricky and his teammates topped four years later at the Games in Abu Dhabi, where they won a long-awaited and well-deserved gold medal.
Ricky’s wide skill set as an athlete also enabled him to take part in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin earlier this year. His team sport achievements were now replaced by individual success on the ski trails, where Ricky’s efforts resulted in two gold medals. And he’s only been training cross-country skiing for five years, entirely self-taught and self-coached, even waxing his own skis. An accomplishment that clearly reflects Ricky’s drive and determination when it comes to sport and training.
“So far, training on my own has worked pretty well, but sometimes it’s more will and muscles than technique. I contacted Östersund Ski Club and spoke with the coach, Leif Danielsson, about competing for the club, and I was really happy when they said yes,” Ricky says proudly.
Ricky describes himself as an athlete who always gives his all, both for himself and his team. For him, sportsmanship is a very important part of being an athlete. Supporting both your teammates and your opponents is central to Ricky’s view of sport.
“The important thing is that everyone has fun. It’s always great to meet other athletes from different teams and countries and you make a lot of new friends. But on the pitch, of course you want to win. Sometimes people lose their heads a bit, but it always passes quickly and when the final whistle blows, we’re friends again,” Ricky says, explaining what’s important on and off the field.
Special Olympics has played a big and important role in Ricky’s life – not just as a place to compete but as a space where he has grown as a person. It’s where he’s developed, been encouraged and built his self-confidence.
“Special Olympics has given me friends for life. It’s a fantastic feeling to be part of a community where everyone is included and recognised for who they are,” says Ricky about what Special Olympics has meant to him.
For him, the competitions have meant new friendships and unforgettable memories. There’s something special about gathering athletes from all over the world in one place for a week of intense sport. He even met his current girlfriend during the Winter Games in Turin.
“We laugh a lot, both within the team and with athletes from other countries. It’s not just about competing, it’s about real joy and togetherness,” says Ricky about the World Games.
Since 2019, Sigma has been the main sponsor of Special Olympics Sweden. Their support is vital for giving athletes like Ricky the chance to explore sport and exercise. Thanks to the sponsorship, physical activity and better health have become accessible to more people – and a rewarding part of their daily life.
“Without sponsors like Sigma, not as many people would have discovered what sport can mean for their health and self-confidence. It means so much that companies want to support us. It shows they believe in us,” Ricky says about the importance of support from sponsors.
I feel bad if I don’t get to train. It’s like therapy for me; it’s my happy place..
– Ricky Landgraff
Ricky has good self-awareness, and when asked what his worst habits as an athlete are, he says he tends to overtrain. Squeezing in an extra CrossFit session before work five days a week, on top of daily training, can wear down even a young and well-trained body. But he’s learned from his mistakes and now understands the importance of recovery.
“I feel bad if I don’t get to train. It’s like therapy for me; it’s my happy place. That’s why it’s not hard for me to get to the gym at half five in the morning. After that I’m full of energy when I get to work at eight,” Ricky says about his committed training regime.
Ricky has been involved in sport since he was nine, and handball is the sport he enjoys most – and believes he’s best at. He has played for IFK Tumba Handball for many years, where he’s active both in the club’s development team and in Härs & Tvärs – a team for players with intellectual disabilities. The club has meant a great deal to Ricky:
“IFK Tumba Handboll Härs & Tvärs and my coaches, Susann and Erika, have paved the way for my development – both as an athlete and as a person,” he says.
At TML CrossFit, Ricky trains with “unified partners”, where he’s the only athlete with an intellectual disability. CrossFit has also taken him to competitions all over the world, and he competed in the WheelWOD Adaptive Games in Texas in 2024. There, Ricky took silver, another medal in his growing collection of precious metals across the disciplines he competes in.
“It’s great to win medals, but it’s not just about winning, it’s about daring to take part,” Ricky concludes emphatically.
