Runner Andreas Almgren’s success continues.
At the Stockholm stadium, he secured a second Olympic ticket, at the distance of 5,000 meters.
From just the speed, he ran into a new Swedish record under the dream limit of 13 minutes.
– I do this in the middle of May, I have done very little branch-specific training and have to pull the last 2,000 myself… there is good capacity in the legs this summer. It’s so damn nice, says Andreas Almgren to Radiosporten.
He finished in 12.59.82. It is below the Olympic qualification limit of 13.05 and below the previous Swedish record of 13.01.70, which was set by Almgren himself two years ago.
In addition, 13 minutes is an informal dream limit for the distance. Only about ten Europeans have run under 13 minutes.
“Painful”. This is how Almgren describes the end of the race.
– I just had to bite on the last lap, I barely had steering speed, he says.
When Almgren ran to the finish line in an early summer warm Stockholm stadium, he secured an Olympic double. He was already ready for the Olympics in Paris, at his better distance of 10,000 meters.
In France, he will be able to start with 10,000 meters, rest for four days, and then run 5,000 meters.
– It is perfectly located. It starts with 10,000 meters, which I think will be the main distance for Andreas. Then he can only go on with 5,000. It feels damn good, says the national athletics team’s captain Kajsa Bergqvist to Radiosporten.
An exhausted Andreas Almgren after the finish line.
An exhausted Andreas Almgren after the finish line.
Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT
Facts: Andreas Almgren
Born: 12 June 1995 in Sollentuna.
Club: Tureberg.
Branches: middle and long distance runners.
Swedish records: 3.32.00 at 1,500 meters, 7.37.05 at 3,000 m, 12.59.82 at 5,000 m, 26.52.87 at 10,000 m, 27.20 at 10 km road, 59.23 at half marathon (all outdoors). 7.34.31 in 3,000 m (indoors).