The injury-prone long- and middle-distance runner was one of seven Swedish athletes who on Wednesday received clearance from team captain Kajsa Bergqvist to travel to the European Championship indoors in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, which takes place on 6-9 March.
However, it will be the only international indoor championship this year for Almgren, where he will run 3,000 meters. He closes the door to running the same distance at the World Championship indoors in Nanjing, China, a couple of weeks later.
Olympic Games setback
It's about me getting a really good basic training period this spring. After the indoor European Championship, I feel that I need to get back to training immediately, increase the training volume and reduce the intensity so that I can maintain it throughout the season, says the 29-year-old.
Almgren has recently completed a training camp in Spain after having set a new European record on the 10-kilometer road in Valencia (time 26.53) a month ago. He is trying to learn from last year when he impressed both indoors and outdoors but suffered a stress reaction on the back of one shinbone and missed the Olympic Games in Paris.
I got injured and missed the Olympic Games last year. For me, the goal is to participate in the World Championship outdoors in September (in Tokyo) and to be as good as possible.
Kramer doubles
One who plans to double up at indoor championships in March is 800-meter runner Andreas Kramer. The championship in China has been postponed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Usually, there aren't two indoor championships. It will be a damn challenge, but we see it as a small opportunity to get two championships in a short time. If I'm in good form during the short period, it can go twice as well. Or it can go twice as badly if I'm in poor form. It will be fun to test it, says the 27-year-old.
Kajsa Bergqvist estimates that between 20 and 22 Swedes will travel to the European Championship indoors and between 7 and 9 to the World Championship indoors.
European Championship indoors, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 6-9 March: Andreas Almgren, 3,000 m, Andreas Kramer, 800 m, Henrik Larsson, 60 m, Thobias Montler, long jump, Samuel Pihlström, 1,500 m, Wilma Nielsen, do, Fanny Roos, shot put.
World Championship indoors, Nanjing, China, 21-23 March: Armand Duplantis, pole vault, Andreas Kramer, 800 m.
Armand Duplantis has declined the European Championship indoors and Andreas Almgren the World Championship indoors.
