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Angelica Bengtsson was flawless above 4.73, winning the women’s pole vault in Tampere and making sure Sweden could secure the overall victory in Finnkampen. But attempts to reach the Swedish record height of 4.84 did not turn out as expected.
In the last attempt, a gust of wind came that forced her to slow down and instead of flying towards the bar she crashed into the carpet.
– I’ve been battling mental ghosts this summer. It is a special rod, called 23-1. Today I felt like I could put that pole and beat the Swedish record … but then the wind came, says Bengtsson.
Close tears in SVT
Is that why you feel robbed?
– Exactly.
She sighs.
– I tried to stop to redo the approach, because I had time for myself. But I couldn’t stop.
– With the result in hand, I would have stayed earlier, immediately when I felt that it began to blow a little. It should have been wise instead of stupid.
Angelica Bengtsson was on the verge of tears when she was interviewed by SVT’s André Pops immediately after the competition.
– It was because I had lost the opportunity to beat the Swedish record this summer. This was the last competition.
Conversation with the coach
How are you going to fight mental ghosts?
– I thought I’d get it today. Before the competition, I spoke with my coach about these negative thoughts that I have and he gave me a lot of good advice. In the end, I felt like today would work. I had high expectations.
But the feeling is that you will take 4.84 with that club, if you just make a few more tries?
– For real. But the future is so uncertain. Will it even be an indoor season? I really want to be successful today. I believed in that today.
Angelica Bengtsson’s teammate Michaela Meijer holds the Swedish record of 4.83.
The Swedish ladies won Finnkampen with a total of 221-186.
