It was the first time a Swede had won a World Championship medal in shot put. And it was the first time that Axelina Johansson felt like she was anything more than average in a championship after, among other things, an eighth place in the indoor World Championships last year and a seventh place in the outdoor European Championships in 2022.
"After Tokyo (the World Championships last fall) I felt that I was so tired of being "average". So I have worked super hard and become much stronger, been more careful with my diet so that I get the energy I need. And the training has been going well and I have felt increasingly confident in the ring."
she says, beaming with joy when she meets Swedish journalists.
"Today I felt like I belonged here. I feel confident. It felt so good! I haven't really been able to do it this season, I was injured at Christmas (back) and haven't been able to train that well, but now I finally got a match."
Bergqvist cheered
However, Friday could have started better for the shot putter.
"It wasn't a fun morning, I can say. I woke up and felt like 'shit, my throat hurts'. But I tried to ignore it."
She says that national team captain Kajsa Bergqvist encouraged her.
"She said she had her best competition when she was sick. So I felt that I could have it too," says Johansson.
"Right now I have so much adrenaline and have taken so much Alvedon and Ipren, so now I feel pretty good. But tomorrow it will probably hit me."
Three centimeters from the silver
The throw of 19.75 meters is also a new Swedish indoor record, after Johansson improved her own previous record of 19.72 meters.
Silver medalist Sarah Mitton from Canada threw 19.78 meters, just three centimeters longer than Johansson's.
American Chase Jackson won with a throw of 20.14 meters.
Fanny Roos put 18.96 meters and finished sixth.
"It was a bit of a letdown. I don't really feel like I've found the same timing and feel for the technique now during the indoor season compared to last summer," says Roos.
