Perseus Karlström was in the lead group directly from the start but then quickly lost ground on the one-kilometer loop outside the National Arena.
He was nine seconds behind the lead after nine kilometers – a distance that then only grew and grew.
23 seconds after 11 km, 27 after 13, 39 after 15 and 56 after almost half the race. In addition, he got a cramp feeling after 20 km.
In the end, the Swede, who had dyed his hair yellow for the day, finished in 19th place with a time of 2.37.47 – and was wheeled in a wheelchair from the finish line to the organizer's doctor.
"Tough conditions"
There he stayed for a long time. After just over an hour, he was wheeled out of there and on to the doping control.
It was tough conditions and when I woke up this morning, I did so with a bit of goosebumps and was really bad in my stomach. I felt really bad in the morning. Probably it was something I ate yesterday that wasn't quite right, he says.
How did you feel after the race?
It was a cramp condition in my whole body, basically. I couldn't move.
What did the doctors say?
The doctors were bad. It was terribly bad "medical service" here.
They were slow, had a small staff and just wanted to get me out of there directly. I got a water bottle and an ice pack and then: "Now you need to go, we need the space". It was really weird.
Bet on 35 km
Perseus Karlström traveled to Japan's capital with a focus on performing as best as possible on the 35 kilometer walk.
At the same time, the 35-year-old was uncertain about what he could achieve.
The doubt was partly due to the virus he was infected with during the spring and which forced him to take a break for four weeks, and partly due to his new training schedule.
Now the race became something completely different, considering the stomach problems and cramps.
Despite the tough race, the walker – who has previously won four World Championship medals – hopes to start the 20 km which will be decided on the penultimate day of the championship, September 20.
We'll see what my legs say. I wouldn't have competed if it were tomorrow. I hope to be able to recharge and then we'll see how my stomach and everything feels. I'm not at all satisfied with this and I'll try to get revenge on the 20.
Canadian Evan Dunfee won in 2.28.22 ahead of Caio Bonfim, Brazil, and Hayato Katsuki, Japan.
