For Taiwanese-Swedish artistic gymnast Tonya Paulsson, who joined Sweden’s gymnastics national team in 2016, competing internationally is nothing new.
Her accolades include helping Sweden reach the podium at the Nordic Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2016 to 2018, as well as earning a bronze medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
However, the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Jecheon, South Korea, this month is to mark a new chapter in her career.
Photo: CNA
For the first time, Paulsson would represent Taiwan — her mother’s homeland — instead of Sweden, where she has lived for more than 20 years.
“In Sweden, they’re known for being strict with Olympic selection. Just because you qualify doesn’t mean you’ll go. It’s easier if you’re part of their talent program... My federation didn’t nominate me, but they nominated other girls,” she said.
“I thought that was unfair, because I had results at just as high a level as they did. I’m very happy for them ... but I was never given the opportunity. So I asked my mom: ‘Can I try to change my nationality?’” Paulsson said in an interview with the Central News Agency in Kaohsiung, where was preparing for the Jecheon.
Photo: CNA
Paulsson announced her decision to switch her nationality to Taiwan in November last year, and the move was approved by the International Gymnastics Federation in late February.
Paulsson earned her spot on Taiwan’s national team at the National Intercollegiate Games from April 27 to May 1.
Paulsson, 21, said that artistic gymnastics is the only sport she has ever truly committed to — and it all began by chance.
When she was a child playing at a local playground, a neighbor who was a gymnastics coach noticed her exceptional flexibility and agility.
Unlike most gymnasts, who typically start training at age three or four, Paulsson was already eight. After seeing her performance in the first class, her coach told her she had potential.
Describing herself as someone who “needs challenges,” Paulsson said she has stuck with artistic gymnastics, as she finds the sport’s mental and physical demands “challenging,” but “fun.”
Paulsson often visited Taiwan during summer vacation.
To keep up her regimen while in Taiwan, her mother contacted Cheng Kun-chieh, who coaches the gymnastics team at Taipei Municipal Datong High School. Cheng welcomed Paulsson to train with them, a connection that eventually paved the way for her nationality switch.
“I want to thank him a lot, because he was the one who helped me switch countries. It was a difficult process, but he made it much easier,” Paulsson said, adding that Cheng also helped her realize her potential.
Cheng has arranged for Paulsson to compete at the Asian Championships and the FISU World University Games in Germany next month, where he hopes she can win Taiwan’s first artistic gymnastics medal at the Games.
Since starting her training in Taiwan, Paulsson said she has received more support and resources than in Sweden, where she did not get paid and had to take care of herself, even when injured.
“Here, I just take the elevator from the sixth floor to the first floor. I don’t have to worry about anything other than gymnastics,” she said.
Being surrounded by Olympic medalists at the National Sports Training Center has been motivating, she added.
“I think I can give more, too; when I see other people working really hard, I feel I can be like them,” she said.
Other than the training environment, Paulsson said she enjoys the convenience of Taiwan and its warm weather.
Still, she said switching nationalities has been “difficult.”
In an interview with a Swedish sports outlet in November last year, Paulsson described receiving a wave of criticism — including racist remarks — after announcing her decision.
Despite the backlash, she said her Swedish identity remains unchanged.
“I’m a Swedish citizen — I feel more Swedish than Taiwanese and have been incredibly proud every time I’ve worn the Swedish flag,” she said.
After the World University Games, Paulsson would begin a bachelor’s program in civil law at the University of California, Berkeley, but her gymnastics career would continue.
“I’ll be doing college gymnastics for the school and continuing to train to represent Taiwan,” she said, reaffirming her commitment to the 2026 Asian Games and the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series. “My main goal is the 2028 Olympics.”
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