A World Championship I'll Never Forget

What an incredible World Championship this turned out to be—in every possible way.

From simply managing to bring a team to the tournament, to winning the hearts of the fans, this is a weekend I'll never forget. I'll do my best to sum up this unforgettable journey.

Our adventure began when we arrived in Winterthur, Switzerland. We were welcomed by beautiful weather, with temperatures between 25 and 30°C, feeling more like a Swedish summer than late autumn.

For many of us, just being there was already a victory.

We had spent years working to build a Colombian national team, and now we had finally made it to the World Championship.

Then the drama began almost immediately.

Just before the entire team was due to arrive, we received the news that our starting goalkeeper wouldn't be able to travel. His flight had been canceled at the last minute, leaving us without anyone to play in goal.

In the middle of the chaos, we decided the fairest solution was to draw lots to determine who would take the position.

Unfortunately, the player who was selected had one major problem—he was almost blind without his glasses, and they couldn't be worn underneath a goalkeeper's helmet.

That's when our 67-year-old head coach stepped forward.

Seeing how desperate the situation had become—and how disappointed some players were at the thought of giving up their positions as outfield players—he didn't hesitate.

He volunteered to play goalkeeper in our opening match.

It was an incredible act of selflessness that perfectly reflected the spirit and unity within our team.

After that first game, our team captain took over as goalkeeper—and he was outstanding.

He began his goalkeeping career by saving all three penalty shots he faced in a single match.

An unbelievable performance that inspired the entire team.

Learning at the Highest Level

The tournament itself was a real eye-opener.

My teammates quickly realized just how high the international level truly is.

The speed, skill, and experience of our opponents were unlike anything we had ever faced before.

But not once did anyone hang their head.

Regardless of the scoreline, we remained proud, positive, and determined.

We fought for every ball, worked tirelessly, and gave absolutely everything we had every second we were on the court.

A Moment I'll Carry Forever

Personally, I couldn't be prouder—both of my teammates and of my own performance.

I had the honor of writing myself into Colombian floorball history by scoring Colombia's very first international goals.

Not just one—but all five goals our national team scored during the tournament.

That's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

One of the most magical moments came when supporters from other countries began chanting my name.

"¡Vamos Gabriel!"

Every time I carried the ball forward, I could hear them cheering.

Feeling that support gave me goosebumps.

It reminded me that even though we didn't win any matches, we won something just as meaningful—we won the hearts of the fans.

Just the Beginning

As both a player and the Vice Sports President of Floorball in Colombia, I know this is only the beginning.

We've taken our first steps onto the international stage and shown the world what Colombia represents:

Heart. Passion. And an unwavering determination.

We'll be back.

Stronger.

Better prepared.

And hungrier than ever.

This isn't the end.

It's only the beginning.

¡Vamos Colombia, vamos!

Gabriel Björkman