SWEDISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE

Transcription

1 SWEDISH TEAM MEDIA GUIDE IAAF World Championships in Athletics Berlin 2009

2 Index Stefan infusing energy into the Swedish team DANIEL ALMGREN, Decathlon MAGNUS ARVIDSSON, Javelin Throw NADJA CASADEI, Heptathlon MATTIAS CLAESSON, 800 m HELENA ENGMAN, Shot Put JESPER FRITZ, Pole Vault EMMA GREEN, High Jump ANDREAS GUSTAFSSON, 50 km Walk PER JACOBSEN, 3000 m Steeplechase ALHAJI JENG, Pole Vault ULRIKA JOHANSSON, 3000 m Steeplechase ROBERT KRONBERG, 110 m Hurdles Presenting Swedish Athletics SOFIA LARSSON, Discus Throw JONAS LOHSE, Javelin Throw MUSTAFA MOHAMED, 3000 m Steeplechase CECILIA NILSSON, Hammer Throw JESSICA SAMUELSSON, Heptathlon MONICA SVENSSON, 20 km Walk ANNA SÖDERBERG, Discus Throw LINUS THÖRNBLAD, High Jump MICHEL TORNÉUS, Long Jump NICKLAS WIBERG, Decathlon JOHAN WISSMAN, 400 m Sweden Team Officials and Main Sponsors Swedish Team Press Conferences Editor: Fredrik Trahn Photo: Ryno Quantz Production: Text & Bildproduktion AB Facts compiled by: A. Lennart Julin (ATFS) Facts women and walking: Valuable assistance from material compiled by Bo Nordin, Jonas Hedman, Bengt Holmberg, Owe Fröberg and Birger Fält. Note: The purpose of this guide is to be a source of background information for the media covering the 2009 World Championships. Thus individual pieces of information are of course free to use in articles and reports. However, the actual profiles must not be wholly or partially reprinted, published on the Internet or entered into databases or similar electronic information systems. Media contact: Media contacts with the Swedish Team shall be organised via Fredrik Trahn, Press Chief, phone , [email protected] Swedish Athletic Association Box 11, SE SOLNA, SWEDEN Phone: , Fax: [email protected], Internet: Stefan infusing energy into the Swedish team Stefan Olsson became the new National Team Manager for the Swedish Athletics Team in The World Championships in Berlin will be Stefan s first outdoor championships. He will be accompanying the Swedish team, full of enormous enthusiasm. Under Stefan s management, the Swedish team won two medals at the European Indoor Championships in Turin in March, 2009, with Johan Wissman taking gold in the 400m and Mattias Claesson taking bronze in the 800m. Stefan says, It was a tremendous experience to be able to begin my work with two championship medals and to take success for Swedish athletics even further. We re now working very hard at maintaining our position as one of the successful nations in athletics. Stefan s philosophy is built on the work that previous National Team Managers, Ulf Karlsson and Thomas Engdahl, worked for. A National Team should be a practical and psychological support, where an individual is able to take advantage of the benefits he or she wants and needs. Stefan is a wonderful source of energy and enjoyment. His maxim is to make other people happy every day. Stefan continues, It s so easy to give someone a bit of attention and it means so much too. The Swedish Team has prepared itself for the World Championships at a world championships camp in Feldkirch, Austria. Stefan s athletics background goes back a long way, partly as a central person in his club, the Göta Karlstad Sports, where he was the administrative director for the club for 15 years, and partly as a manager and athlete. He has also worked as a sports writer and as a commentator and speaker at many major sporting events. He has, in part, reorganized the staffing in the top-level and national teams. Among other things, he has intentionally concentrated on appointing several women to the training organization. We ve got several gifted women trainers. We want to give them the opportunity of being able to take responsibility in the national team. In Sweden, this area has been very much dominated by men in the past, Stefan adds. The weekend following the World Championships in Berlin holds in store the annual prestigious international match against Finland, Finnkampen, in Göteborg. 3

3 4 Fredrik Oskar DANIEL ALMGREN Pronounciation DAH-nee-ell AHLM-grehn 30 November 1979 Stockholm Management consultant (full time) Height/Weight 190 cm / 87 kg Vallentuna FIK (-'01), Täby IS ('02), Hässelby ('03-) Conny Silfver Decathlon Personal best Rakvere, EST Progression Dec HJ LJ 200m 400m Hep i /6.84i /7.27w 22.24/22.05w /6.84i 22.45/22.06i /2.04i 7.23/7.26w 22.46i 50.36i 5.018i /7.27w i /2.02i 7.32/7.50w i i /1.97i 7.05/7.07w/7.16i i Major competitions - Internat. matches Outdoors: 10 National titles Outdoors: '05, '06, '07 Indoors (Heptathlon): '04 PB other events 60m i 7.10 Karlskrona m Huddinge w Rakvere, EST m Gävle w Västerås m Szczecin, POL m 1:56.28 Stockholm m 4:10.61 Szczecin, POL mH i 8.38 Västerås mH Malmö mH Helsinki, FIN HJ 2.02 Helsingborg i 2.04 Karlskrona PV 4.35 Sollentuna LJ 7.35 Gävle w 7.50 Rakvere, EST TJ Göteborg SP Rakvere, EST i Malmö DT Szczecin, POL JT Rakvere, EST Hept i Västerås Athletics in family Brother Anders (b '82): LJ: 6.45/6.68i '99 '07 Note: Began as a high jumper (national youth team), due to injury switched to 200m at age 19, then to long jump at age 21, added 400m at age 23. First ever combined event a indoor heptathlon at age 24, first ever decathlon at age 25 scoring 7.253! At '06 Swedish Championships tried 400m Hurdles for the first time. Fell twice and leisurely walked across the finish line in However, that strangely enough turned out to be the 8th fastest legal time in the heats so advanced him to the final! In the final stayed on his feet and got the silver medal with 52.93! That drop of seconds (44.9%) must constitute a WR in PB improvement! Works full time as a management consultant at McKinsey&Company! Blog: Pronounciation MUNG-nuhss AHRR-vidd-sonn 20 February 1983 Height/Weight Växjö Athlete 191 cm / 100 kg KA 2 IF Jonas Mellblom Javelin Throw Jan MAGNUS ARVIDSSON Personal best Osaka, JPN best Doha, QAT (only meet this year) Progression JT JT 600g Major competitions 2002 World Junior Ch qual 2003 Europ ean U23 Ch qual 2005 European U23 Ch European Ch World Ch 10 World Athletics Final Olympic G 11 Internat. matches Outdoors: 6 National titles Outdoors: '06, '07, '08 PB other events SP Karlskrona Note: Steady progress averaging approximately four meters improvement per year between '01 and '07. Exceptionally consistent, in '05 had nine meets at 76/77 with on top, in '06 his PB was supported by 5x80 and 4x79 and in '07 his PB was backed up by 9 more meets at 84-85! Troubled by foot injury since '08, had an operation last autumn and a second one in June this year. Built his own practice runway in the woods near his family home in Ramdala. Earlier competed nationally in power lifting in off-season. 5

4 Pronounciation Height/Weight NADJA Emelie Nathalie CASADEI NUDD-jah Cuss-ah-DAY 3 April 1983 (Rödeby) Stockholm Athlete 174 cm / 66 kg IFK Karlskrona (-'97), KA 2 IF ('98-'05), IFK Lidingö ('06-) Leif Robertson Heptathlon Personal best Szczecin, POL Progression Hep Pen i LJ HJ 200m 100mH 800m PV : : w 2: i : i 5.42/5.43w /25.78i 15.02/14.91w 2: w 3.60i i i i i : i /24.70w : /24.78w :08.15 Major competitions 2001 European Junior Ch 11 Internat. matches Outdoors: 8 National titles: Outdoors: '07 PB other events 60m i 7.83 Sätra m Stendal, GER w Norrköping m Jyväskylä, FIN w Huddinge m Eskilstuna m 2:08.15 Szczecin, POL mH i 8.82 Malmö mH Szczecin, POL mH Västerås mH Vellinge HJ 1.78 Ried, AUT PV 3.60 Karlskrona i 3.65 Karlskrona LJ 6.21 Värnamo TJ Växjö SP Szczecin, POL JT Grosseto, ITA Pen i Göteborg Athletics in family Mother Lena Kullberg, (b '63) 100m/200m/LJ: 11.97/24.36/6.33 '79 Sister Gabriela (b '89) LJ: 5.77 '04 Note: In her teens was the No 2 in Sweden in Heptathlon in her age group behind Carolina Klüft. Knee injury in '01 made high jump (and thereby Heptathlon) impossible to pursue, instead took up pole vaulting. Finally in '07 - after a break of five years - could return to her first love, the combined events. Secured the Berlin ticket by lowering her 800m PB by over three seconds in a solo run (won by seven seconds!) at the European Cup. Mother Lena in 1979 at age 16 set a Swedish senior record in the long jump with Website: MATTIAS CLAESSON, 800 m 6

5 MATTIAS David CLAESSON Pronounciation Mah-TEE-uss KLAH-sonn 26 July 1986 (Nykyrka) Stockholm Athlete Height/Weight 184 cm / 70 kg Mullsjö SOK (-'03), Hässelby SK ('04-) /Advisor Selfcoached 800m Personal best 1:46.36 Oslo, NOR Progression 800m 400m 400m i :21.95i i : i : i : i : i : i : : i Major competitions 2003 European Youth Olympics 3 (800m) 2005 European Indoor Ch heat (800m) European Junior Ch 1 (800m) World Ch heat (4x400m) 2006 World Indoor Ch 4 (4x400m) European Ch semi (800m) 2007 European Indoor Ch 5 (800m) World Ch heat (800m) 2008 World Indoor Ch semi (800m) 2009 European Indoor Ch 3 (800m) Internat. matches Outdoors: 9 Indoors: 1 National titles Outdoors: '05, '06, '07, '09 Indoors: '07, '08, '09 PB other events 60m i 7.20 Västerås m Norrtälje m Sollentuna m Sollentuna m 2:21.00 Karlstad m 4:03.97 Stockholm i 3:51.54 Sätra m 9:18.23 Stockholm Kula 8.78 Kungsängen Diskus Kungsängen Slägga Kungsängen Spjut Kungsängen Note: With background in cross-country running, american football and judo decided at age 16 to become a runner and immediately ran credible times of 4:10/9:18 for 1500m/3000m. However, had mind set on shorter distances with the long time focus on 800m to which end competed mainly at 400m until '06. Big national breakthrough summer of '04 by at age 18 running three truly remarkable negatively-split 800m races: Winning the national race at DN Galan in 1:48.15 (54.7/53.5!), placing 2nd at the Swedish Championships in 1:47.07 (c54.5/52.6!) and winning the match vs Finland in 1:50.66 (59.3/51.4). In latter race had 23.7 between 500m and 700m! Stunned onlookers - and left the opposition standing - by employing the same kind of "lightning strikes" tactics at the '05 European Junior Championships. Despite being last with 300m to go in the slow paced final - and despite not hitting the front until coming off the last bend - won by 1.21 seconds! Pronounciation Height US university Heh-LEH-nah ENG-munn 16 June 1976 (Piteå) Piteå Physical education teacher (part time) 171 cm / 92 kg Riviera FI Utah Valley State College ('99) Kurt Engman Shot Put HELENA Sofia ENGMAN Personal bests 18.13i Nordhausen, GER **NIR** Torino, ITA **NR** 2009 best Eskilstuna Progression i i i i i Major competitions 1999 World University G 12 qual (HT) 2003 World University G European Cup/Super L 9 European Ch qual 2007 European Indoor Ch 8 World Ch qual 2008 World Indoor Ch qual 2009 European Indoor Ch qual Internat. matches Outdoors: 16 Indoors: 2 National titles Outdoors : '03, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09 Indoors: '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09 PB other events TJ Trollbäcken DT Sundsvall HT Växjö JT Piteå WT (20 lb) i Logan, UT Athletics in family Father Kurt (b '41) TJ: '73. Mother Barbro (Hartzell, b '42): 800m/1500m/3000m: 2:17.0m/4:39.1m/10:16.6m '72 First cousin Joakim Eriksson (b '61): 1500m: 3:51.65 '82 Note: At the '06 match vs Finland suddenly added 76 cm to her 6 years old PB missing the NR by just 1 cm. In '07 confirmed improvement by raising Swedish record indoors by 45 cm to and outdoors record by 20 cm to Winter of '08 surpassed 18 m in three indoor meets. Uses the rotational technique which despite now being dominant among the men is quite rare in the women's elite. 8 9

6 Pronounciation YESS-perr FRITZ 13 September 1985 Height/Weight Malmö Medical student (part time) 185 cm / 78 kg Malmö AI Stanislaw Szczyrba Pole Vault Claes JESPER FRITZ Personal best 5.70 Debrecen, HUN best 5.61 Stockholm Progression i i Major competitions 2003 European Junior Ch World Junior Ch European Indoor Ch qual European U23 Ch European Ch qual 2007 European U23 Ch World Indoor Ch qual Olympic G qual Internat. matches Outdoors: 4 Indoors: 1 National titles Outdoors: '08 PB other events SP Malmö DT Malmö HT Malmö JT Malmö Athletics in family Brother Johan (b 82) PV/TJ: 4.80/ JESPER FRITZ, Pole Vault 10

7 EMMA Anna-Maria GREEN Pronounciation EMM-ah GREH-n 8 December 1984 (Bergsjön, Göteborg) Göteborg Athlete Height/Weight 180 cm / 62 kg IF Rigor, Ullevi FK ('98-'02), Örgryte IS ('03-) Yannick Tregaro High Jump Personal bests 1.97 Helsingborg i Malmö best 1.96 Malmö Progression HJ 100m 200m i 27.52i i 12.70/12.47w 26.26/26.02i i i w w i i Major competitions 2001 European Youth Olympics World Junior Ch European Junior Ch European Indoor Ch 8 European U23 Ch 2 World Ch World Indoor Ch qual European Cup/Super L 5 (200m!) European Ch 11 5 (4x100m!) 2007 European Indoor Ch qual World Ch =7 World Athletics Final World Indoor Ch qual Olympic G 9 Internat. matches Outdoors: 11 Indoors: 1 National titles Outdoors (HJ): '05, '07, '08, '09 (LJ): '05 Indoors (HJ): '01, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08 PB other events 60m i 7.42 Göteborg m Doha, QAT m Málaga, ESP LJ 6.41 Helsingborg TJ Vaasa, FIN w Sävedalen i Sätra Athletics in family Mother Maria (Lennerthson, b '59) 100m/200m: 12.5m/26.1m '73 Father Lennart (b '57) 400m/800m: 51.10/1:57.8m '81 Brother Erik (b '86) LJ: 6.87/6.97w/6.89i/ '05 Paternal uncle Göte (b '55) 400m: 48.13/47.9m '76/'77 Note: First year in athletics at age 14 did 1.71 in HJ and at 200m. Just like Kajsa Bergqvist and Carolina Klüft began international career by winning the HJ at the European Youth Olympics. Since Helsinki bronze displayed great versatility by successfully venturing into also sprinting (7.42i/11.58/23.02) and horizontal jumping (6.41/13.69i). However, from '07 back to concentrating on the HJ. EMMA GREEN, High Jump 12

8 ANDREAS GUSTAFSSON Representing Svenska Gång- och Vandrarförbundet (Swedish Walking Association) Pronounciation Un-DREH-uss GUHSS-tough-sonn 10 August 1981 Height/Weight 180 cm / 67 kg GK Steget /Advisor Bo Gustafsson s 50 km Walk Personal best 4:00:48 Leamington, GBR best - Progression :00: :06: Major competitions 2000 World Junior Ch 21 (10000mW) 2007 European Cup 26 World Ch dq 2008 World Cup dnf 2009 European Cup dnf National titles Indoors (5000mW): '09 PB other events 10000mW 41:53.0 Los Gatos, CA kmw 1:27:30 Podébrady, CZE Athletics in family Father Bo (b '54): 50kmW 3:44:49 '88 (Olympic silver '84) Brother Jacob (b '84): 800m 1:49.45 '06, 1500m: 3:43.41 '09. Brother Peter (b '86): 400m/800m: 50.20/1:53.00 '09 Note: Has resided in the US for most of his life. Pronounciation Pair JAH-cobb-senn 30 December 1977 Height/Weight /Advisor Karlstad Salesman 174 cm / 60 kg IF Göta Claes Nyberg 3000m Steeplechase PER Anders JACOBSEN Personal best 8:30.86 Sollentuna best 8:31.29 Bydgoszcz, POL Progression 3000mSt 1500m 5000m 3000m : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :21.10i : : :21.10/8:16.24i : : : : : : : : : : :19.29i 8:19.69/8:13.91i : : : : : : : : :47.87 Major competitions 2005 European XC Ch European XC Ch 45 Internat. matches Outdoors: 11 National titles Outdoors (3000mSt): '05, '07, '09 PB other events 800m 1:55.65 Karlstad m 2:31.5m Karlstad m 3:45.58 Göteborg m 8:07.32 Malmö m 13:58.24 Ninove, BEL m 30:12.20 Antalya, TUR mSt 4:06.58 Karlstad mSt 5:38.25 Göteborg Note: Always a steeplechase specialist who, however, didn't dip under 8:40 until age

9 ALHAJI JENG ALHAJI JENG, Pole Vault Pronounciation Height/Weight Al-HAJJ-ee YENG 13 December 1981 (Banjul, GAM) Göteborg Athlete 185 cm / 77 kg Örgryte IS Geir Ove Rasmussen Pole Vault Personal bests 5.80 Zhukovskiy, RUS i Stockholm **NIR** 2009 best 5.61 Heusden-Zolder, BEL Progression i i /5.75& 5.71i i i Major competitions 2000 World Junior Ch European U23 Ch European Indoor Ch World Indoor Ch 2 European Ch final (injured) 2007 World Ch qual 2008 World Indoor Ch 7 Olympic G qual 2009 European Indoor Ch 5 Internat. matches Outdoors: 9 Indoors: 1 National titles Outdoors : '06 Indoors: '05, '06, '08 PB other events 60m i 7.18 Göteborg m Göteborg m 2:25.42 Lerum m 2:58.72 Göteborg mH i 8.53 Göteborg mH Göteborg HJ i 2.00 Göteborg Karlskoga LJ i 7.07 Göteborg w 6.26 Lerum SP i Göteborg HT Mölndal JT Mölndal Hep i Göteborg Note: Has lived in Sweden for just about his whole life as he was only a few weeks old when family moved from Gambia in early '82. Grew up in same neighbourhood as Christian Olsson, Yannick Tregaro and Patrik Kristiansson in the Göteborg suburb of Angered. The '95 WCh in hometown made great impact on the 13 years old. Decided after seeing Sergey Bubka in action that Pole Vault was the sport to pursue! Won final major meet before '05 WCh the IAAF Super GP "DN Galan" defeating i.a. 5 of would-be Helsinki top-7 but still couldn't be entered into the WCh due to not having made the then A-standard of When getting the chance in the '06 WICh immediately proved himself by taking the silver medal. Hampered by hamstring problems during summer of '06 and winter and summer of '07. 16

10 Pronounciation Height/Weight /Advisor Uhll-REE-kah YU-hunn-sonn 9 February 1975 (Alunda) Stockholm Postman 175 cm / 60 kg Alunda SK (- 96), Rånäs 4H ('97-) Bo Noaksson 3000m Steeplechase Kerstin ULRIKA JOHANSSON Personal bests 9:40.55 Heusden-Zolder, BEL Progression 1500m 800m 3000m 3000mSt :36.6m : : : : : :29.7m : : : : : : : : : : :19.50i 2:09.77i 9:55.0mi : : :33.57i 10: : :19.92i 2: :40.86i : : : :17.79i 2:12.57i 9: : : :11.04i 9: : : :16.13i 2: :36.93i 10: : : : : : :15.56i 2: :21.72i 9:40.55 Major competitions - Internat. matches Outdoors: 12 Indoors: 2 National titles Outdoors (1500m): '06, '08 (3000mSt): '08 Indoors (1500m): '02, '08, '09 (3000m): '06, '07, '08, '09 PB other events 400m Stockholm m 2:07.48 Stockholm m 4:15.77 Heusden-Zolder, BEL i 4:15.56 Stockholm m 9:23.37 Karlstad i 9:21.72 Glasgow, GBR m 16:17.49 Malmö Note: Soccer player recruited to athletics at age 20 to fill out a relay team for a local club. Has remained in the sport since then while the original members of that team left the sport within a couple of years. Despite competing for fifteen years has set new PB's at all distances within the last thirteen months. University degree in archaeology. Blog: ULRIKA JOHANSSON 3000 m Steeplechase 18

11 Leif ROBERT KRONBERG Pronounciation RAW-behrt KROON-bairj 15 August 1976 (Göteborg) Göteborg Student (part time) Height/Weight 181 cm / 86 kg IFK Göteborg (-'95), IF Kville ('96-) Anders Palmqvist 110m Hurdles Personal best Lausanne, SUI **NR** 2009 best Sundsvall PB other events SP Hässleholm DT Göteborg JT Göteborg Note: During this millenium reached the final at seven out of eight first indoor championships (didn't compete at all indoors in '06) and at eight outdoor events has scored four finals and four semi-finals. Extraordinary consistency underlined by twelve straight national titles outdoors and twelve straight appearances in the European Cup / Team Championships (winning '01 to '06). When in '07 taking the 11th national outdoor title had a winning margin of 0.94 s! This year had outdoor winning streak broken when losing by a scant 0.05 to Philip Nossmy. Since '97 has outdoors 30 races sub-13.50, 83 sub-13.60, 139 sub and 194 sub Indoors has 6 races sub-7.60, 54 sub-7.70 and 108 sub Website: Progression 110mH 60mH i i i i i i i i i i i i i i Major competitions 1994 World Junior Ch semi (110mH) 2002 European Indoor Ch 5 (60mH) 1995 European Junior Ch 2 (110mH) European Ch 7 (110mH) 1997 World Indoor Ch heat (60mH) 2003 World Indoor Ch 7 (60mH) European U23 Ch final (dnf) (110mH) World Ch semi (110mH) World Ch quarter (110mH) 2004 World Indoor Ch 6 (60mH) 1998 European Indoor Ch heat (60mH) European Cup/Super L 1 (110mH) 1999 World University G 6 (110mH) Olympic G semi (110mH) World Ch quarter (110mH) 2005 European Indoor Ch 3 (60mH) 2000 European Indoor Ch 6 (60mH) World Ch semi (110mH) European Cup/Super L 3 (110mH) 2006 European Ch 5 (110mH) Olympic G 8 (110mH) 2007 European Indoor Ch 7 (60mH) 2001 World Indoor Ch 4 (60mH) World Ch semi (110mH) World Ch 5 (110mH) 2008 World Indoor Ch semi (60mH) World University G 3 (110mH) 2009 European Indoor Ch semi (60mH) Internat. matches Outdoors: 26 Indoors: 4 National titles Outdoors: '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08 Indoors (60mH): '97, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '07, '08, '09 (60m): '04 PB other events 60m i 6.77 Göteborg m Karlstad m Norrköping m 2:08.30 Göteborg mH i 6.46 Sindelfingen, GER **NIR** 60mH i 7.54 Lisboa, POR **NIR** i 7.54 Glasgow, GBR **NIR** 200mH Lerum mH Stockholm HJ 1.90 Nässjö PV 3.00 Karlstad LJ 7.52 Karlstad TJ Göteborg

12 Presenting Swedish Athletics The mission of the Swedish Athletic Association, commonly called Swedish Athletics, is to promote, develop and administer athletics. The role of the Association is to represent athletics in Sweden while, at the same time, be responsible for international and national competitions, along with the participation of the National Team in World and European Championships and international competitions for youths, juniors and seniors, among others. Formed in 1895, the Swedish Athletic Association is one of the biggest sports associations in Sweden. Today, it has approx. 350,000 members, organized in around 1,000 clubs divided into 23 districts. In addition to this, there are a half a million people, the majority of whom are not connected to a club, participating every year in competitions on main roads and cross-country. In addition to this, there are more than a million who run for exercise without taking part in any competition at all. The basis of all these activities is run by non-profit managers in clubs. Athletics is a sport that requires a lot of managers, trainers and instructors. Training courses for these people are arranged by nine Development Centres. On the central level, there are the Athletics Association Council and the Association Secretariat that carry out what has been decided on at the annual Association Meeting. Vision That athletics will be one of the country s most attractive sports, having strong support from a broad range of the population. Our sport is to be a forerunner, when it comes to offering all the participants in our activities an enjoyable, stimulating personal development, physically, psychologically, socially and culturally. That athletics will stand for a positive lifestyle, where both top-level and broad activities provide the power of attraction and inspiration for young and old, women and men alike, irrespective of their ethnic or social background. Concept for activities That athletics will provide people with the opportunity of being able to participate as athletes, managers, officials, trainers or simply as parents of athletes for all those that want. This is to take place through comprehensive national club activities, developed and adapted to the demands of the times for meaningful leisure time activities and carried out in inspiring, practical environments. 22

13 Pronounciation So-FEE-ah LAH-shonn 22 July 1988 Karlstad Student Height/Weight 174 cm / 82 kg Säffle FIK (-'05), IF Göta ('06-) Anton Leion Discus Throw Personal best Göteborg SOFIA Kristina LARSSON Progression Major competitions 2007 European Junior Ch qual 2005 European U23 Ch 4l Internat. matches Outdoors: 3 National titles - PB other events 60mH i 9.26 Karlstad mH Västerås HJ 1.55 Säffle i 1.55 Karlstad LJ 4.90 Karlskoga i 5.05 Karlstad SP Karlstad HT Karlstad JT Karlstad Note: Started out in athletics focussing on combined events and hurdles, then switched to the javelin before at age 19 finally "discovering" the discus as her event. Pronounciation YOO-nuss LOOS-eh 15 May 1987 Height/Weight Kungsbacka Athlete 203 cm / 113 kg Mölndals AIK Bobbie Lohse Javelin Throw Carl JONAS LOHSE Personal best Habo best Göteborg Progression JT Major competitions 2007 European U23 Ch European U23 Ch qual Internat. matches Outdoors: 3 National titles Outdoors : - PB other events SP Göteborg i Göteborg DT Göteborg HT Göteborg Athletics in family Father Bobbie (b '58) SP: '81, DT: '80, JT: '86 (old '85) Brother Magnus (b '84) SP: '06, 20.03i '05, DT: '05, HT: '08, JT: '07 Note: Didn't take up athletics seriously until late teens, but then progressed extremely fast. Father/coach Bobbie after athletics career turned to yacht racing competing in two Olympics finishing 5th in '88 and 2nd (silver medal!) in '92 in the star boat class. Older brother Magnus was the European Junior champion in the Shot Put in '

14 MUSTAFA Hassan MOHAMED Pronounciation Mu-STAFF-ah Mu-HAMM-ed 1 March 1979 (Mogadishu, SOM) Göteborg Athlete Height/Weight 172 cm / 54 kg Hälle IF /Advisor Ulf Friberg 3000m Steeplechase Personal best 8:05.75 Heusden-Zolder, BEL best 8:18.44 Saint Denis, FRA Progression 3000mSt 10000m 5000m 3000m Halfmarathon : : : : : : : : : : : :15.34i 1:06: : : : : : : :24 1:05: : : : : :03: : : : :03: : : :04: : : : : :39.71i 7: : : : : : : : : :54.05i - Major competitions 1997 European Junior Ch 2 (10000m) European Junior XC Ch World Junior XC Ch 54 World Junior Ch 8 (3000mSt) European Junior XC Ch European U23 Ch 5 (10000m) 2000 European XC Ch European U23 Ch 8 (10000m) 2002 European XC Ch World Ch heat (3000mSt) European XC Ch European Cup/Super League 4 (3000mSt) Olympic G 13 (3000mSt) European XC Ch World Ch 10 (3000mSt) European XC Ch European Ch 4 (3000mSt) European XC Ch World XC Ch 28 World Ch 4 (3000mSt) World Athletic Final 7 (3000mSt) European XC Ch Olympic G 10 (3000mSt) World Athletics Final 6 (3000mSt) European XC Ch 3 Internat. matches Outdoors: 12 National titles Outdoors (3000mSt): '02, '03, '06, '08 (5000m): '04, '05, '07 (4 km XC): '05, '09 (12 km XC): '04, '05, '07, '08, '09 Indoors (3000m): '06 PB other events 800m 1:57.90 Stockholm m 3:44.01 Nijmegen, NED mile 4:00.02 Malmö m 7:59.40 Kungälv i 7:54.05 Stockholm m 13:32.08 Kassel, GER i 13:39.71 Stockholm **NIR** 10000m 28:49.14 Turku, FIN km road 28:12 Manchester, GBR **NR** Halfmar 1:03:35 Göteborg Marathon 2:32:00 Sevilla, ESP mSt 5:37.00 Karlskrona Athletics in family Brother Ahmed (b '76) 3000mSt/1500m: 8:46.71/3:47.88 '99 Note: Moved with family from Somalia to Sweden at age 11. Originally preferred football (soccer) but at age 16 was finally persuaded to take up running. With 8:05.75 in '07 erased the Olympic Gold winning and World Record time of 8:08.02 set by Anders Gärderud 31 years (to the day!) earlier from the list of Swedish national records - and missed the European record by a mere Confirmed new level with 8:07.83 ten days later. Has been on the podium at the last three European Cross Country Championships. Website: mustafamohamed.com/ 26 27

15 MUSTAFA MOHAMED, 3000 m Steeplechase Ingrid CECILIA NILSSON Pronounciation Height/Weight Ceh-CEE-lee-ah NILL-sonn 22 June 1979 (Fristad) Eskilstuna Athletics club director 178 cm / 90 kg IK Ymer (-'05), Råby-Rekarne FI ('06-) Kim Johansson Hammer Throw Personal best Halle, GER **NR** 2009 best Bottnaryd Progression Major competitions 1997 European Junior Ch qual 1998 World Junior Ch final 1999 European U23 Ch European U23 Ch World Ch qual 2002 European Ch qual 2003 World Ch qual 2005 World Ch qual 2006 European Cup/Super L 7 European Ch qual 2007 World Ch qual Internat. matches Outdoors: 21 National titles Outdoors: '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '07, '09 Indoors (WT): '04, '05 PB other events 60m i 7.86 Malmö m Göteborg m Sävedalen m Värnamo m 2:32.21 Lerum mH 9.22 Göteborg mH Stockholm HJ 1.56 Malmö LJ 5.49 Borås SP Karlskrona i Malmö DT Karlstad JT Karlstad WT (10 kg) Malmö Hep Malmö Athletics in family Sister Sofia (b '76) JT: '91. Note: Began as allround athlete but had to leave the running events due to asthma and then at age 18 made the HT priority. Has held the NR since 10 July '98 improving it on no less than 18 occasions and by a total of over 10 meters. Website: 29

16 Pronounciation JESSICA Eva Katarina SAMUELSSON YESS-ee-cah SAH-muh-el-sonn 14 March 1985 Height/Weight Stockholm Law student (part time) 176 cm / 65 kg Boo IF (-'01), Hässelby SK ('02-) Dejan Mirkovic Heptathlon Personal best Götzis, AUT best Beograd, SRB Progression Hep Pen i 400m 200m 100mH LJ 800m 400mH /25.37w? : i 24.75i 5.66i : /13.99w : /14.11w 6.01w 2: i : /13.84w :07.03 Major competitions 2003 European Junior Ch heat (400mH) 2005 European U23 Ch 8 (Hep) 2006 European Cup/Super L 9 (Hep) 2007 European U23 Ch 13 (Hep) World Ch 29 (Hep) 2009 World University G 1 (Hep) Internat. matches Outdoors: 5 National titles Outdoors (Hep): '03, '05, '08 (LJ): '09 Indoors (Pen): '05, '06, '08, '09 PB other events 60m i 7.67 Malmö m Sävedalen m Värnamo m Enskede m Sollentuna m 2:07.03 Beogard, SRB mH i 8.50 Bollnäs mH Karlstad w Malmö mH Västerås mH Norrtälje HJ 1.76 Beograd, SRB LJ 6.32 Västerås SP Sollentuna i Sätra JT Debrecen, HUN Pen i Västerås Note: Sprinter/hurdler until '03, when focus began shifting towards combined events. In '08 surpassed the IAAF A-standard on three occasions but was still not selected for Beijing by the Swedish OC. Eva MONICA Kristina SVENSSON Representing Svenska Gång- och Vandrarförbundet (Swedish Walking Association) Pronounciation MOH-nick-ah SVENN-sonn 26 December 1978 (Alvesta) Height/Weight 166 cm / 57 kg Växjö AIS /Advisor Ulf-Peter Sjöholm s 20 km Walk Personal best 1:31:20 Vallensbaek, DEN best 1:34:31 Dudince, SVK Progression :46: :38: :31: :40: :36: :35: :37: :33: :34: :40: :35: :39: :32:51 Major competitions 1999 European U23 Ch 6 European Ch European Cup World Cup World Ch 27 European Cup World Cup dq 2005 World Ch 32 European Cup dq 2006 World Cup dq World Cup European Cup dq 2008 World Cup 33 National titles Outdoors (20 km): '97, '98, '99, '00, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '08 (10 km): '98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06 (5 km): '01, '02, '03, '05, '06 Indoors (3000m): '00, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09 PB other events 5000mW 22:42.3 Helsinki, FIN kmw 45:54 Vallensbaek, DEN kmw 4:10:59 Scanzorosciate, ITA Athletics in family Brother Fredrik (b '73): 50 kmw: 3:53:46 '04 Brother Christer (b '69): 50 kmw 4:14:21 '

17 ANNA Therése SÖDERBERG ANNA SÖDERBERG, Discus Throw Pronounciation UNN-ah SEU-dehrr-bairj 11 June 1973 (Knista) Nurse (part time) Height/Weight 177 cm / 85 kg s Fjugesta IF (-'94), Ullevi FK ('95-) US university Northen Arizona University ('93-'97) /Advisor Anders Axlid Discus Throw Personal best Aremark, NOR **NR** 2009 best Helsingborg Progression Major competitions 1992 World Junior Ch qual 1997 World Ch European Ch qual 1999 World University G 5 World Ch qual 2000 Olympic G qual 2002 European Ch qual 2003 World Ch Olympic G qual 2005 World Ch European Cup/Super L 5 European Ch 11 World Athletics Final World Ch qual World Athletics Final Olympic G qual World Athletics Final 5 Internat. matches Outdoors: 28 Indoors: 2 National titles Outdoors (DT): '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09 (HT): '96, '97 Indoors (WT): '02, '03, '06 PB other events HJ 1.67 Phoenix, AZ SP Malmö HT Aremark, NOR WT (20 lb) i Flagstaff, AZ Athletics in family Husband Anders (Axlid, b '66): SP/DT: 18.62/56.66 '94 Note: Exceptional record of having won not only all national senior titles since age 20 but also as a youth and junior athlete all national titles for her age group! Her 17 straight senior titles is the greatest ever in any event in Sweden. First surpassed 60m on 17 May '97, current score of 60+ meets is 108. US Collegiate (NCAA) champion in '96. Despite always focussing on the DT was the inaugural NR-holder and national champion in the HT. CECILIA NILSSON, Hammer Throw HELENA ENGMAN, Shot Put 32

18 Pronounciation Height/Weight LEE-nuss TURN-blahd 6 March 1985 (Lund) Malmö Athlete 180 cm / 77 kg IFK Lund (-'06), Malmö AI ('07-) Stanislaw Szczyrba High Jump Carl LINUS THÖRNBLAD Personal bests 2.34 Göteborg i Göteborg bests 2.31 Warszawa, POL i Banská Bystrica, SVK Progression i i i i i i Major competitions 2001 World Youth Ch qual 2002 World Junior Ch qual 2003 European Junior Ch World Junior Ch 4 Olympic G qual 2005 European Indoor Ch qual European U23 Ch World Indoor Ch 3 European Ch 4 World Athletics Final European Indoor Ch 2 World Ch 15 World Athletics Final Olympic G qual World Athletics Final European Indoor Ch qual Internat. matches Outdoors: 9 National titles Outdoors : - Indoors: '05, '09 PB other events 60m i 7.06 Lund m i Malmö JT Malmö Athletics in family Grandfather Karl-Gustaf (b '27) 800m: 1:54.2 '56 Note: Soccer player who at age 15 accidently discovered his HJ talent in school PE. In December '00 - two months after joining a club - cleared 1.90 in 1st ever competition. In January '01 cleared 2.00 in his 2nd competition. Just two and a half years later made At Swedish Indoor Championships '07 raised his PB twice by clearing both 2.36 and 2.38 on first attempts, but still only got the silver medal (losing on countback to Holm). Current score of meets is 41. LINUS THÖRNBLAD, High Jump 34

19 MICHEL Tresor Komesha TORNÉUS Pronounciation Mi-SHELL Tohrr-NEH-uhss 26 maj 1986 (Botkyrka) Tumba Community centre youth instructor (part time) Height/Weight 184 cm / 68 kg IFK Tumba Oscar Gidewall Long Jump Personal best 8.11 Göteborg Progression z 4.40zw (z = measured from take-off point) z z 4.79zw w Major competitions 2005 European Junior Ch European U23 Ch European Indoor Ch qual Internat. matches Outdoors: 6 National titles Outdoors : '05, '07, '08, '09 Indoors: '08 PB other events 60m i 7.06 Sätra m Huddinge w Gavà, ESP m Sollentuna w Vallentuna m Enskede m Gävle m i 2:50.91 Karlskrona m 4:52.29 Gävle mH Gävle mH Kvarnsveden mH Leppävaara, FIN HJ 1.92 Gävle i 1.99 Karlskrona PV 2.96 Gävle i 3.26 Karlskrona TJ Gävle SP Norrköping DT Gävle JT Gävle Dec Gävle Note: On 27 June 2009 became the 3rd Swedish long jumper ever to surpass 8 metres in legal wind conditions when jumping STEFAN OLSSON, Team Manager 36

20 NICKLAS Robert WIBERG Pronounciation NICK-luss VEE-bairj 16 April 1985 (Gustavsberg) Färjestaden Athlete Height/Weight 193 cm / 84 kg FIK Färjestaden (-'04), FI Kalmarsund ('05-) Kjell Andersson & Thomas Lindén Decathlon Personal best Götzis, AUT Progression Dec HJ JT LJ 400m 800m 200m : / z 2: / z 2: / z 2: / z 2: / z 2: / z 2: / /5.49w 52.0m 2: / : / : /23.44w J /7.16w : w /2.05i /7.30i /7.30w /7.63i Major competitions 2003 European Junior Ch World Junior Ch dnf 2006 European Ch 20 Internat. matches Outdoors: 5 National titles Indoors (Heptathlon): '05, '07 PB other events 60m i 7.02 Bollnäs m Woerden, NED w Rakvere, EST m Eksjö m Göteborg m Rakvere, EST m 1:56.28 Stockholm m 2:38.19 Karlskrona m 4:14.38 Tampere, FIN m 6:22.43 Helsingborg mH i 8.10 Göteborg mH Jönköping mH Helsinki, FIN HJ 2.13 Århus, DEN Jyväskylä, FIN PV 4.20 Alzenau, GER Götzis, AUT i 4.36 Karlskrona LJ 7.54 Karlstad i 7.63 Bollnäs SP Bålsta DT Skruv JT Götzis, AUT Hept i Bollnäs Athletics in family Sister Malin (b '89): 100m/200m/LJ: 12.55w/26.00/5.24 '06 (5.39w), 400m/Hep: 59.30/4.334 '07 Note: Until age 17 had middle distance running as his priority. With strength in the JT and the 1500m surprised everybody coming from way back with two events remaining to grab '03 European Junior title. Website: JOHAN WISSMAN, 400 m 38

21 Pronounciation Height/Weight YU-hunn VISS-munn 2 November 1982 (Kvistofta, Helsingborg) Helsingborg Athlete (part time economy student) 180 cm / 75 kg IFK Helsingborg Kenth Olsson 400m JOHAN Lukas WISSMAN Personal best Osaka, JPN best Leiria, POR Progression 400m 400mi 200m 200m i i i i w 21.79i i i i i i w 20.93i i i i i i w 20.91i i i Major competitions 1999 European Y Olympics 5 (400m) 2005 European Indoor Ch semi (200m) final (dq) (4x100m) World Ch quarter (200m) 2000 World Junior Ch quarter (200m) heat (4x400m) 2001 European Junior Ch 2 (400m) 2006 World Indoor Ch 4 (4x400m) 4 (4x100m) European Ch 2 (200m) 5 (4x400m) 2007 European Indoor Ch 4 (400m) World Ch heat (4x400m) World Ch 7 (400m) 2002 European Indoor Ch semi (200m) World Athletics Final 4 (200m) European Ch quarter (200m) 2008 World Indoor Ch 2 (400m) 2003 World Indoor Ch heat (200m) Olympic G 8 (400m) European U23 Ch 3 (200m) World Athletics Final 8 (400m) 4 (4x100m) 2009 European Indoor Ch 1 (400m) World Ch semi (200m) 2004 World Indoor Ch 2 (200m) European Cup/Super L 2 (200m) Olympic G quarter (200m) Internat. matches Outdoors: 17 Indoors: 3 National titles Outdoors (100m): '04 (200m): '01, '03, '04, '06, '07, '09 (400m): '02, '05 Indoors (200m): '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '09 PB other events 60m i 6.84 Göteborg m Helsingborg w Helsingborg m Stuttgart, GER **NR** w Helsinki, FIN i Liévin, FRA **NIR** 300m Sollentuna i Liévin, FRA **EIR** 400m i Torino, ITA **NIR** 800m 2:03.00 Vellinge m 4:32.24 Borås mSt 11:12.75 Tranås mH Karlskrona PB other events LJ 6.81 Stockholm SP 9.48 Helsingborg DT Helsingborg HT Helsingborg JT Helsingborg Athletics in family Father Mats Persson (b '49): 800m 1:59.4m '66. Note: Winter of '04 ran the 200m in six meets, improved the NIR on four occasions and won all races but the last, the WICh final which he lost by In March '06 ran an unofficial European Indoor record for 300m in Liévin lowering Erwin Skamrahl's 20 years old mark of by This winter missed that record by a mere First international success as a 400m-runner (silver at '01 European Juniors) but then chose 200m as main event to improve his speed. However, long term focus remained at 400m and after '06 ECh 200m silver switched priorities and re-focused on the 1-lap event. In summer of '07 lowered PB by over one second and in Osaka WCh ran sub-45 in all three rounds. Had four individual silvers, one bronze and two 4th places from international championships before striking gold at '09 European Indoors. Website:

22 Swedish Team Officials Head : Stefan Olsson, Team Management: Anders Rydén Gunilla Dahlén Media: Fredrik Trahn, press chief, David Fridell, media assistant, Team es: Kenth Olsson, sprint, hurdles Anders Axlid, throwing events Yannick Tregaro, high jump Ulf Friberg, middle and long distance running, walking Geir-Ove Rasmussen, pole vault Dejan Mirkovic, heptathlon Kjell Andersson, decathlon Leif Robertsson, decathlon Oscar Gidewall, long jump Bobbie Lohse, javelin Anton Leion, discus Personal coaches: Kim Johansson, hammer throw Kurt Engman, shot put Jonas Mellblom, javelin Stanislaw Szczyrba, high jump, pole vault Conny Silfver, decathlon Medical Team: Thomas Eriksson, team doctor Jenny Jacobsson, physiotherapist Tommy Eriksson, physiotherapist Henrik Wagner, masseur MICHEL TORNÉUS, Long Jump LINUS THÖRNBLAD, High Jump JOHAN WISSMAN, 400 m Main sponsors of The Swedish National Athletic Team

23 Swedish Team Press Conferences Thursday August pm.... Hotel Golden Tulip Jessica Samuelsson Nadja Casadei Ulrika Johansson Friday August pm.... Hotel Golden Tulip Helena Engman Per Jacobsen Monica Svensson Saturday August evening.. Hotel Berlin Berlin Mustafa Mohamed Sunday August pm Seconds Johan Wissman Emma Green Monday August pm.... Swedish Embassy Nicklas Wiberg Daniel Almgren Anna Söderberg Sofia Larsson Robert Kronberg Linus Thörnblad Tuesday August pm.... Champions Alhaji Jeng Jesper Fritz Mattias Claesson Michel Torneus Cecilia Nilsson Wednesday August pm.. Swedish Embassy Jonas Lohse Magnus Arvidsson Andreas Gustafsson Note: The schedule is provisional and subject to change. Please check the latest information with Fredrik Trahn, Press Chief Swedish Team, , [email protected] Each athlete will do a press conference two days prior to their start. The press conferences will be held in Swedish and English if necessary. Hotel Golden Tulip, Landgrafenstrasse 4, Berlin, Germany, Hotel Berlin Berlin, Lützowplatz 17, Berlin, Germany, 40 Seconds, Potsdamer Strasse 58, Berlin, Germany, Swedish Embassy, Rauchstrasse 1, Berlin Germany, Champions, Thüringer Allee 5-11, Berlin, Germany