Henrik Larsson felt robbed of a Swedish record on 200 meters in Karlstad.
He plans to take revenge on half the distance in the OS in Paris.
I'm going to do under 10 seconds.
It was the worst possible conditions for sprinting: really cold and wet.
Then the Swedish stars Henrik Larsson and Julia Henriksson impressed in their respective 200-meter races in Karlstad GP.
Larsson noted 20.55 seconds and was convinced that he would have set a Swedish record (under Johan Wissman's 20.30 from 2006) with favorable conditions.
100 percent. Look at the guys I'm running against. Faust (Brian, USA) has done 20.5 but was far behind.
Larsson had no competition for the win. Instead, he had to fight against the weather.
Sweden in July… It feels like an October pass on a gravel track. Sore throat, snuffly, says Larsson, who had to postpone the interviews after the race to put on proper overclothes.
In the OS in Paris, it's 100 meters that count for Henrik Larsson. He feels in really good form and the goal is set high.
It usually takes just under 10 seconds to reach the final. I'm going to do that, I know. If I stay healthy, it's a sub-goal. I'll be very shocked if I don't beat my personal best (10.08, Swedish record) properly, says the 24-year-old.
"Without pressure"
A year younger Julia Henriksson also won her race.
She finished in 22.95, just a little more than a tenth over her personal best (22.82) which she set when she equaled Linda Haglund's Swedish record in the European Championship in Rome earlier this summer.
Really fun to be able to run so fast in this weather. It was a bit hard to recharge after the SM (where it became double gold) so I'm very pleased, says she.
Henriksson got the green light for the OS on Wednesday and could run relaxed.
Nice to compete without pressure now that the OS ticket is secured.
Won after SM flop
Andreas Kramer will also go to Paris. The 800-meter runner has had a tough week in the aftermath of a cold and was defeated in the SM after 16 straight golds.
In Karlstad, he did like Larsson and Henriksson: won his race.
Today I just wanted to fight for the win and it worked well the last 100 (meters). I'm glad to be back, says he.