Angelica Bengtsson left athletics at the age of 28.
Before the World Cup, she does not hesitate for a moment that it was the right decision.
– I do not like to move unnecessarily, she says to Expressen.
Angelica Bengtsson won the hearts of the Swedish people during the recent World Cup. During a jump, the pole suddenly fell off, and she fell nasty – but she got up immediately, and with the knife to her throat, she immediately jumped over 4.80 to advance in the competition.
She does today
But not only that: It was also a new Swedish record, and despite the fact that Bengtsson did not reach any podium place in the competition, she was praised for the feat. But just two years later, his career was over. Bengtsson’s upload to the Olympics was not optimal, with a broken collaboration with his coach. She finished in 13th place in the competition, which was her last.
On Friday, the World Cup begins again – the first since Bengtsson chose to end his career. Today, she lives a life far from the athletics elite, and she does not regret a bit that she left. She says today that she “does not like to move unnecessarily”.
– The reason I quit was that I did not feel I could do better. I was in very good shape last year, but I felt after that that there was no opportunity to develop and then it was not fun anymore. I am such a person who does not want to move for the sake of touching, so when I felt that I could not get better, the whole point of doing the sport disappeared, she tells Expressen.
“Exercises once a month”
Angelica Bengtsson today spends all her time studying. She is studying at the mathematics program in Växjö, and it is not directly a wild investment in training.
– I train maybe once a month nowadays. That’s all right, she says.
Angelica Bengtsson, however, looks back on her career with pride.
– I’m very proud. I won many competitions and broke a couple of Swedish records that came with great feelings for both me and the audience. Then it’s clear there are some things that you think are a shame that they happened, but that’s it.
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