Kajsa Bergqvist winning the 2006 Eurojump in Goteborg (© Hasse Sjögren)
The new World indoor record holder*, Kajsa Bergqvist, is injured and misses tonight’s event in Banska Bystrica.
The injury occurred on Sunday (12) when she was carrying out routine jump training over hurdles. Coach Yannick Tregaro wrote on his website: “Kajsa was running through various jump exercises (on Sunday) when she landed awkwardly and twisted her foot. It was when she was hopping with both feet over three hurdles and was not particularly focussed.”
“This means that she will not be competing in the high jump gala in Banska Bystrica (tonight). Instead she has to rest, receive treatment and start rehab for the foot. Kajsa is planning to compete next in the Swedish Indoor championships in Sätra (25th Feb). I don’t see anything stopping her from jumping well there,” concluded her coach.
Berqvist set a World indoor record of 2.08m* in Arnstadt, Germany, 4 February. The 29-year-old Swede, the reigning World and European champion and a former two-time World indoor gold medallist, added one centimetre to the previous mark set by Heike Henkel on 8 February 1992. Bergqvist cleared the record height on her first attempt with Henkel watching from the stands.
So far she has had a great indoor season, clearing 2m on three out of four competitions. Her main aim this winter is the World Indoor Championships in Moscow (10-12 March) where she will be looking for her third indoor title.
Bergqvist missed the 2004 Olympic Games when she tore her Achilles tendon on her outdoor debut just a month before the Games, but came back strongly last year, winning all 13 competitions.
Michael Butcher for the IAAF
*subject to ratification
