Carl Bengtström made a big impression when he took European Championship bronze in the 400 meter hurdles in June, when he broke Sven Nylander’s Swedish record, which had stood since the Olympic final in 1996 – when Nylander finished fourth. Bengtström then ran 47.94.
Tonight, Bengtström ran the semi-final at the same distance, but then he did not manage to progress.
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“Be heavy”
The 24-year-old was decent at the start of the race, but lost ground as time went on and finished sixth in a time of 49.56. Thus his Olympics are over, as it was only the first two in each heat, plus the two best times in the rest, that went on.
– I do what I can today, and the cream had run out of me. But I’m still satisfied. I’m happy to be in the semi-finals, it’s fun. It’s the third race I’ve done in three days, so it’s tough, he tells SVT Sport, and continues:
– But I love it, this is what I live for, so it’s great fun to be here and run. It was a shame that I can’t do more, but at the same time I’m doing what I should in this championship.
Warholm fastest in the semi-finals
American Rai Benjamin won Bengtström’s heat in 47.85. The fastest in the semi-finals was the reigning Olympic champion, Norway’s Karsten Warholm.
Despite jogging the last few metres, he ran 47.67.
Erlandsson: “Today the brain ghosts won”
Erik Erlandsson is also eliminated in the 200 meters. The Swede finished last in his semi-final, with a time of 20.93. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won the heat in 19.96.
– I felt after 30-40 meters that I was stiff, so today the brain ghosts won. It stopped me from pushing 100 percent, says Erlandsson to SVT Sport, and explains what he means by brain ghosts:
– I had two serious back injuries last year. Then I feel in the back of my mind that something is not as it usually is – and it doesn’t have to be something bad – then it’s easy to get brain fog and I can’t push everything I can.