Linus Sundström

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| name = Linus Sundström

| image = Linus Sundström(2013).jpg

| caption = Sundstrom, Stal Gorzow, 2013

| nationality = Swedish

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|10|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Avesta, Sweden

| career1 = Sweden

| years2 = 2008-2014, 2018-2019

| career2 = Piraterna

| years3 = 2008-2009

| career3 = Solkatterna

| years4 = 2014-2015

| career4 = Lejonen

| years5 = 2015-2018

| career5 = Masarna

| years6 = 2020

| career6 = Västervik

| career7 = Great Britain

| years8 = 2009-2010

| career8 = Rye House

| years9 = 2010

| career9 = Ipswich

| years10 = 2011-2013

| career10 = Peterborough

| years11 = 2018

| career11 = Poole

| career12 = Poland

| years13 = 2013

| career13 = Gorzów

| years14 = 2020

| career14 = Daugavpils

| career18 = Denmark

| years19 = 2009, 2012–2013

| career19 = Grindsted

| years21 = 2010–2011, 2021

| career21 = Fjelsted

| indivhonour1 = European U19 Championship

| indivyear1 = 2007

| indivhonour2 = Swedish U21 Bronze Medallist

| indivyear2 = 2009

| indivhonour3 = Nordic U19 Champion

| indivyear3 = 2009

| indivhonour4 = Swedish U21 Silver Medallist

| indivyear4 = 2010, 2011

| indivhonour5 = Brandonapolis Champion

| indivyear5 = 2012

| teamhonour1 = Speedway World Cup Winner

| teamyear1 = 2015

| teamhonour2 = Speedway World Cup silver

| teamyear2 = 2017

| teamhonour3 = Team U-19 European Champion

| teamyear3 = 2008

| teamhonour4 = Elitserien League Champion

| teamyear4 = 2011, 2013

| teamhonour5 = Speedway Ekstraliga

| teamyear5 = 2014

}}

Linus Erik Sundström (born 28 October 1990 in Avesta, Sweden) is a former international speedway rider from Sweden.[http://www.polonia.bydgoszcz.pl/zaw_szcz_08.php?id_k=28 www.polonia.bydgoszcz.pl]. Retrieved on 2008-07-04. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216105313/http://www.polonia.bydgoszcz.pl/zaw_szcz_08.php?id_k=28 |date=December 16, 2008 }}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=27 June 2023}}

Career

Sundström's British speedway career started in 2009 with Rye House Rockets and he top scored for them during 2010 while also earning ten rides for Ipswich Witches in the higher division. In 2011, he signed for Peterborough Panthers for the 2011 Elite League speedway season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/13452964 |title=Speedway: Linus Sundstrom form surprises Panthers boss |website=BBBC Sport |access-date=8 September 2024 }} He stayed with them until 2013.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/3214/linus-sundstrom |title=Linus Sundstrom team history |website=WWO backup |access-date=21 December 2022}} He won the Brandonapolis in 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/speedway/coventry-speedway-brandon-showcase-goes-3028159 |title=Coventry Speedway: Brandon showcase goes to Linus Sundstrom |website=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=8 September 2024 }}

He was selected in the Swedish National squad for the 2012 & 2013 Speedway World Cups.

He achieved his greatest feat at the 2015 Speedway World Cup, when part of the Swedish team that became world team champions. In the World Cup Final he scored 4 points; the team consisted of Andreas Jonsson, Fredrik Lindgren and Antonio Lindbäck.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcnews.com.au/sweden-win-speedway-world-cup-2015/ |title=Sweden win Speedway World Cup |website=MC News |access-date=21 December 2022}}

In 2018, Sundström returned to British speedway after signing for Poole Pirates for the SGB Premiership 2018 season but was replaced mid-season.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaystar.net/_mobile/news.php?extend.642 |title=Poole seal Lundstrom deal |website=Speedway Star |access-date=21 December 2022}}

On 22 September 2019 he suffered what was described as a horrifying crash in Gdansk. He fractured his left thigh in two places, broke his upper arm and shoulder joint and tore his liver. After recovering from the injury he signed for Västervik Speedway but then in May 2021 suffered another serious crash while riding in the Danish league. He suffered seven broken or cracked vertebrae and made the decision to retire from racing.{{cite magazine |author= |title=The Lonely Journey |url=|magazine=Speedway Star |pages=20–21 |location= |publisher= |date=8 October 2022 |access-date=}}