Nathalie Blomqvist is the first Finn in the women’s 5,000 meters Olympic final. The 23-year-old runner exuded confidence after his great heat run.
2.8. 20:32•Updated 2.8. 20:41
Nathalie Blomqvist made a convincing run to the 5,000m final in his first Olympic Games in Paris. Blomqvist, 23, was seventh in the second heat with a time of 15:02.75, while the best eight from both heats advanced.
At the start of the last round, Blomqvist was still in 10–11 places, but he grabbed a few places with a hard finish and secured a place in Monday’s final race. Never before has there been a Finnish representation in the women’s vitos Olympic final.
– Yes, this is a dream that has now come true. I feel incredibly good, I fanned myself when I finished. This was so cool, Blomqvist said.
Blomqvist, who represents IK Falken from Pedersöre, holds the Finnish record of 14:44.72. He ran it at the beginning of June in the EC final in Rome, where he finished fifth.
Blomqvist already made a splash in Rome with his open-minded and brave running, which does not include the bowing of more famous competitors. The runner living in Vaasa managed to repeat the same now also in the global arena.
– I always feel at home when I’m on the running track. It’s no different than running in circles, although of course these are the Olympics. I try to be as relaxed as always. It will go a long way, Blomqvist was happy.
“Yes, I’m tough too”
Blomqvist plans to go into Monday night’s final with the same open attitude as in the preliminary round.
– Calmly and bravely, just join the race, so that you don’t fall too far behind just because it’s the final and the toughest are in it. Yes, I’m tough too and I can fight for hard positions and time, Blomqvist said.
In the Olympic final, the ride to the top can be very cold for a top-fit Finn – like many other finalists. Among other things, the top three of the all-time statistics, Ethiopia, are included Gudaf Tsegay and Kenya Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebetwho have all run the distance to the surface of the 14-minute phantom line.
Blomqvist has only chosen Vito as his main trip this season. In previous seasons, he has represented Finland in the European and World Championships at 1,500 meters. In Tonnyvitonen’s value race runs, he has remained in the heat stage.
Before Blomqvist’s run, the Friday of Finnish general athletes had gone in a low mood. AM Ella Junnila missed the height qualification with a score of 183 and Lotta Kemppinen was far from his best in the first heat of the 100 with a time of 11.56. At the beginning of the evening competitions Senni Salminen the triple jump qualification already ended with a hamstring injury during warm-up.