PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Once upon a time, Kjell Isaksson was Sweden’s best pole vaulter.
Now he talks about life today, the investment towards the veteran WC in 2024 – and the deal with Armand Duplantis.
– We see each other from time to time, says Isaksson to Sportbibeln.
Kjell Isaksson, 75, had his heyday in the late 60s and early 70s. Then he won 10 SM golds in eleven years and took two European Championship silver outdoors and two European Championship silver indoors. Kjell set the outdoor pole vault world record in 1972 and broke the indoor pole vault world record on three occasions between 1970 to 1972. He also held the European record and the Swedish record for several years.
Kjell Isaksson’s life today
The pole vaulting career came to an end in 1992. Since then, Isaksson has, among other things, been part of the Champions of Masters in SVT and started competing in bowling. In bowling, he has achieved several merits, such as winning SM gold in the 50 and 60 age group and coming fifth in a European tour competition, where the world’s elite played.
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We called Kjell Isaksson to find out what life looks like today.
– I bowl, of course, and then I golf a lot and it’s actually going well. And so I’ve started jumping and practicing a little bit of pole before the Veterans WC which will be held in Gothenburg next year, he tells Sportbibeln.
Suffered from injuries
Life has come full circle for Kjell.
– It’s like I’m living the way I did 50 years ago, only that I have injuries all the time. But you do what you are good at, and I have been good at sports. It’s fun to be able to continue and you just have to hope that you don’t suffer any serious injuries so that you can’t do what you want to do.
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The veteran championship was supposed to take place in 2022 but was moved to 2024, says Kjell, which he describes as lucky for him. He has suffered from some minor injuries since he started pole vaulting again.
– When I started jumping, I hadn’t jumped for at least 40 years, and my body didn’t want to participate. You have to start over, from scratch, all the time with everything you do. So it takes a little time, we’ll see if the time is enough. I was up to 2.80 in April, but then I went on some small things, I’ve had to start from the beginning a little bit.
The deal with Mondo
If Isaksson is ready to compete when the veteran WC starts next year, the goal is to win and break the Swedish record. Which shouldn’t be too difficult for him.
– The Veteran European Championships went now and then they came second at 2.60, and I lie down and train at 2.70-2.80. The problem is that I keep picking up small injuries, so I have to start all over again. But I’m among the, probably, three, four, five best in the world in my age group. You just need to be able to jump as well. But I practice a little latjo and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t work, it’s not the end of the world.
– I’m not looking to chase medals, in that I would win a medal at any championship if I was healthy, but that’s not the most important thing. But Gothenburg is a fun thing, says Kjell.
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He has also made an agreement with a certain Armand Duplantis whom he meets from time to time when they train in Sollentunahallen.
– I have made a deal with Mondo that I will jump half of what he jumps (6.23 meters). And the world record (for veterans) is 3.10, so I’m aiming for that. But then I have to be healthy, otherwise it won’t work, says Kjell Isaksson.
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