Munich. The European Commission finished in Athletics and the end result is somewhat similar to the WC in Eugene.
Dangerously close to failure
Had Mundo not finished his show on Saturday, this Swedish effort would have looked mediocre.
Sweden can suggest better breadth, but our neighbors Norway and Finland have more medals.
I know what better.
Here’s what Andreas Kramer said after finishing fourth in the 800m.
– Alaa knows it’s the worst place to end up.
Very close to a medal but still not.
It has now become the most common place for Sweden in this European group.
He was joined by Kramer Simon Peterson in the discus, Andreas Magyar in the 5000m and surprise Marcus Nelson in the decathlon.
For the last two it was a clear fall forward, but Union captain Kajsa Bergqvist’s medal was stopped at two medals.
Mondo EC and Thobias Montler went silver in the long jump.
No, I haven’t forgotten Perseus Karlstrom’s walking silver, but as I’ve been told many times before, walking isn’t athletics in Sweden.
Perseus has his own alliance and the leader of his alliance.
Offer is always important in Sweden
When I spoke to Kajsa before this tournament, the goal was three to four medals and to beat the championship points total from the last European Championship here in Munich in 2002.
She achieved both goals, counting the time herself and Sweden got 52 points this time against 50 last time in 2002. Then I subtracted Perseus’ seven points.
But I find it difficult to calculate the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth points in the tournament.
No one remembers the Four, more so than Sven Nylander who trademarked it in the major leagues and eventually dubbed it the “Eternal Four”.
And I don’t think anyone sits down and tallies championship points the same way athletics directors do.
But in Sweden, breadth has always mattered.
It comes before all else and the biggest reason for this is the spelling Finnkampen.
There is always a risk of injury
While almost all other countries have their national championships in June, Sweden has canceled SM as late in the season as possible.
All in order that the broad mass of track and field athletes, those who rarely make it to any championships, have something to look forward to so as not to finish their seasons in July.
It’s important to get a full crew together for Finnkampen.
I can agree Finnkampen still has its value, but it’s not the same fights as it used to be and the biggest stars usually have bigger competitions to think about.
Like Mondo Duplantis, who won’t be around at this time either, as it goes against the big festivities.
Now someone might think they just need to adjust their boots to jump home to win at Finnkampen, and that’s true too.
But there is always the risk of injury with a very large gap between races.
This is a risk that Mundo and his staff are not willing to take.
They are absolutely right about that.
But I think debate is required if Finnkampen is to take such a focus and decide to plan the competition, especially for SM, which means a lot for the world rankings these days.
Whoever gives the most tickets for the major tournaments.
An SM win is worth more than a branch victory in the Diamond League, which can make all the difference.
I now know that next year’s restroom will be moved before the restroom in Budapest, but it’s an exception that confirms the rule.
The crowd created an incomparable environment
Norway won gold, silver and two bronzes in the final, following surprise Kbrom Zerei Mezngi silver and personal best in the 10,000 metres.
They won Nordenkampen by a wide margin.
OOO
Bright spots then?
Bianca Salming set a personal record in the heptathlon with Father Borgy in the stands which is number one on my list.
I got better, because I know how much it affected Börje, who followed Bianca in every competition, big and small.
Andreas Hungary’s return to the championship and fourth place in the 5000m was also a highlight and could be the start of something really big. If it remains intact.
And of course we must also celebrate all those who have raised themselves and put their best self on a personal level.
OOO
But the best part was the great place and ambiance here in Munich.
It was an athletics party after the scattered stands of the World Cup in Doha 2019, a few crowd-free years with empty stands and the World Cup in Eugene that looked like a small competition with an average audience of just over 10,000 spectators.
Now the audience is back and creating an incomparable environment.
I almost forgot how I feel.
