Emma Sarala, 17, handled the pressure and threw her JVM gold in the discus.
She now talks about the uproar that followed the success, her love for Sweden and the comparison with Armand Duplantis.
– Comparing him is the coolest thing, she says.
Just like Mundo Duplants, Emma Serala was born and raised in the United States with an American father and a Swedish mother.
And, like Duplantis, she chose to compete for Sweden.
Good luck with that.
He might be a future world star that we’re dealing with.
On Thursday night, she seriously introduced herself to the international athletics audience by throwing the JVM discus gold at home in superior style.
When Sportbladet reaches her by phone far away in Cali, Colombia, where the tournament has been scheduled and she still is, she just manages to sort her thoughts out after a good night’s sleep.
– That’s huge. I mean, even if I missed the gold medal, this tournament would still be a huge deal for me and my career. Now it’s gold and feels great. It is the biggest thing I have done and I hope it means I have a bright future, Sarala says.
Support means everything.
She is overwhelmed by all the congratulations that poured in during the Colombian night, to which she did not have time to respond.
She is at least happy – and a little shocked – that gold has become a big talking point in Sweden.
Sarala had no idea her JVM gold had topped several Swedish news sites on Thursday morning.
– My Swedish relatives sent screenshots and wrote that I was all over the news in Sweden, haha. It’s an incredible feeling.
The acceptance I received from the Swedish people means everything to me. It’s nerve-wracking to be competing for a country you don’t live in and I always get a little nervous about it. But when I see the support I get in Sweden, I feel so proud of being Swedish and competing for Sweden, says Sarla.
Visit Sweden in the summer
Her mother Anna moved from Vänersborg to the United States at the age of 18 to play golf in college. There she met Scott’s father, Emma.
Emma was born and raised in Texas where she still lives.
– But every summer we would go to Sweden and visit my mother’s family. She says a big part of growing up was visiting Sweden and learning about the country and culture.
This interview was conducted in English.
– But my Swedish is getting better and better. I understand pretty well, but I get a little nervous when I have to talk. I’m trying to learn. We hope we can do the following interview in Swedish!
Tribute to Ståhl and Duplantis
Emma Srala competes for Stockholm Spurvagen and is therefore a teammate with Daniel Stahl and Simon Peterson.
– Daniel encouraged me when we were in the team championship in Uppsala earlier this summer. I really appreciate that! He is one of my biggest idols. I met him once and he was very nice. She says he is really someone who inspired me.
Other than that, it is the comparison with Mondo Duplantis that is written mostly, at least in the Swedish press.
Not strange, perhaps, because they have the same background.
How do you see the comparison? Does it bother you or is it just a compliment?
– Haha, that’s a funny question. Why does that bother me? I mean, people compare me to a world record holder… It’s rather something that makes me jump for joy! Comparing it is like the coolest thing out there. I’m a huge fan of Mondo, so I’m really glad that people remind us in the same sentence.
no pressure…
– Right haha.
Have you ever met him?
No, I’ve only seen him at the Diamond League ceremonies a few times, but I’ve never spoken to him. My brother (Carl) met him in a town in Stockholm once, but I’m not sure Mundo remembers that, haha.
But in a few years maybe you’ll be competing in the same major tournament?
– I hope so, says Emma Sarala.