Andreas Almgren improved the record by 32 seconds. The previous record was held by the Swiss Julien Wanders, 59.13, from February 2019 in the United Arab Emirates.
The record is even more impressive considering the conditions during the race.
It became quite tough conditions with wind and being in the front a lot, but I'm very pleased that I managed to complete it in such a good way, says Almgren, who believed in a record time before the race.
Training has gone really well lately. I think that if it had been less windy and if I had been able to stay behind a bit more, I might have been able to run even faster. But I'm very pleased considering the circumstances.
Finished fourth
Almgren finished fourth in the race, which was won by the Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha.
The race was Almgren's last for the season – he does not plan to run anything during the indoor season.
That's the plan. I want to continue building a lot of endurance before the summer, and then it's always a risk for me indoors with tight curves and so on.
Started on champagne
The record will now be celebrated properly.
I have some friends who are here and watching the race, so we'll have fun tonight. Finally, I can have an evening where I don't have to think about training the day after or about not getting sick. Now I just want to relax and have fun, says Almgren.
My friends brought a champagne to the finish line, so we've already started on it.
The 30-year-old Swede took bronze on 10,000 meters at the World Championship in Tokyo in September. Almgren has held the European record on 5,000 meters since June this year, set at the Diamond League gala in Stockholm, and in Valencia in January, he set a European record on 10 kilometers road on 26.54.
