When Kajsa Bergqvist ruptured her left Achilles on 18 July 2004, she probably never imagined one year and a few months later she would be celebrating winning the World Athletics Final in Monaco, her adopted home town, as the reigning World champion and World Ranking Event leader!
The Swedish champion overcame a minor injury scare to take top honours in the Stade Louis II with a third attempt clearance at 2 metres. Talking at the pre-event press conference yesterday Bergqvist explained she had strained her ankle in training and didn’t know how serious her injury was.
“I think it’s going to take 2 metres to win tomorrow,” she had declared. “And I hope my ankle will allow me to jump that!”
It was clear that her injury was already behind her tonight as she had easy first-time clearances at 1.85, 1.93 and 1.96. The 28-year-old didn’t actually need to put extra pressure on her ankle as no other competitor tonight was able to clear 1.96m.
If Bergqvist appeared to have run out of steam in her first and second attempts at 2 metres, she definitely found the right concentration on her final try and was well over the bar.
As she is used to, Bergqvist attempted to improve her personal best but was unsuccessful and had three failures at 2.07m.
Five athletes cleared 1.93 tonight with Ukrainians Iryna Mykhalchenko and Viktoriya Palamar tied for second on count-back.
“It was my twelfth competition of the year,” said Bergqvist. “I have finished unbeaten. This victory is special because I competed on a home track where I train every day.”
“My ankle is swollen after yesterday’s injury. With a perfect jump I can jump the World record.”
LA
