– I wonder that too. What has happened these past three weeks, I don’t know. I performed much better than my own expectations, says Wikström to SVT Sport.
You sound surprised.
– At this level, I didn’t think I could be as surprised by a result as I got yesterday, which was extra fun of course. I have been waiting for this step. Why it came now I don’t know, but it was long awaited.
In two years, between 2018 and 2020, Wikström improved 20 seconds in the half marathon. The following three years she picked another 1 minute and eleven seconds. In the last three weeks, she has improved her record by 70 seconds – the next fastest ever by a woman in Sweden.
– It means everything for motivation. It’s days like yesterday that make the hard work worth it. Those are the days you dream about. Getting them sometime sometimes means everything.
“Now maybe it’s the new favorite distance”
Actually, the marathon is her favorite distance and she sees yesterday’s success above all as a good preparation for the next big goal – the Valencia marathon in November.
– But it’s fun to compete in what you’re good at. Now maybe it’s the new favorite distance, we’ll see, she says with a laugh.