Stefan Holm celebrates his winning clearance in the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships high jump final (© Getty Images)
In Athens four years ago Sweden experienced its greatest Olympics in athletics since 1948 with Stefan Holm (High Jump), Christian Olsson (Triple Jump) and Carolina Klüft (Heptathlon) being crowned Olympic champions. To repeat that kind of success now in 2008 is not to be expected, but still there was after 2007 realistic expectations of bringing a handful of athletes to Beijing capable of seriously challenging for medals.
Another major setback for Olsson
However, while the run-up to Athens was almost perfect – with of course the major exception of Kajsa Bergqvist's snapped achilles tendon – it has been almost the direct opposite this time around for the Swedish top athletes as just about all of them have had some major injury setback when preparing for Beijing.
For Christian Olsson another hamstring pull at his comeback competition DN Galan put paid to his chances to compete in Beijing and as Carolina Klüft decided this spring to – after six years as the undisputed No 1 – leave the Heptathlon making the horizontal jumps her new priority only one of the three Swedish champions from Athens – Stefan Holm – will attempt to defend his Olympic title.
But Stefan will on the other hand be extremely keen on getting that second gold as he is very much aware of the fact that no male high jumper so far has been able to defend the Olympic title. He has even stated that if he would indeed succeed he would immediately retire from the sport as it would be the perfect end to his long career!
Is Kallur back in top shape?
A big question mark concerns the fitness of hurdler Susanna Kallur who will come to Beijing without having competed since the Bislett Games in Oslo in early June. She had planned a comeback at DN Galan in Stockholm but not feeling 100% when warming up decided not to take any risks.
"A realistic chance to compete for a top-8 position" is the restrictive criteria applied by the Swedish Olympic Committee to all sports. In Athletics it has the consequence that making the A-standard does not guarantee nomination and the Swedish team for Beijing will consist of just 12 athletes:
Men
Johan Wissman (400m)
Mustafa Mohamed (3000m Steeplechase)
Stefan Holm (High Jump)
Linus Thörnblad (High Jump)
Alhaji Jeng (Pole Vault)
Jesper Fritz (Pole Vault)
Niklas Arrhenius (Discus Throw)
Magnus Arvidsson (Javelin Throw)
Women
Susanna Kallur (100m Hurdles)
Emma Green (High Jump)
Carolina Klüft (Long Jump and Triple Jump)
Anna Söderberg (Discus Throw)
Among those not being selected are three athletes that have made the A-standard this summer: Hurdler Robert Kronberg, decathlete Nicklas Wiberg and heptathlete Jessica Samuelsson. The 23-year-old Samuelsson actually surpassed the A-standard in three major competitions within seven weeks – Götzis, European Cup and National Championships! – but still won't go to Beijing.
Lennart Julin for the IAAF
