It was a Swedish athletics evening to remember in Birmingham. After a high-class and close discus final, it was clear: Vanessa Kamga secured a European Championship bronze and thus won her first major championship medal at senior level.
When the bronze medal was confirmed, an exuberantly happy Kamga bounced into the mixed zone.
"I'm so proud of the journey I've made. Once again, I'm doing one of my best races when it matters most," she says, continuing:
And I'm so proud that I put my training aside to be my best self in front of loved ones in big moments like this, so it feels incredible.
“My voice is cracking”
Little sister Patricia was the first to arrive on the track to congratulate her. She made her way past the security guards.
"Ugh. They probably closed their eyes at that moment. They probably thought I was Vanessa," Patricia Kamga says jokingly.
Vanessa fills in:
Unbelievable. We started celebrating with a lot of hugs. We just looked at each other and screamed and screamed and screamed and jumped. And screamed some more. It feels like I... my voice... it's going to crack at any moment because my vocal cords are kind of overworked from all the happy screams.
For Vanessa Kamga, it's obvious how special it was to perform like this in front of her loved ones.
“Sits where it should”
Really, to be able to share this moment with them means so much. And I have so many loved ones here cheering me on. It feels so good to be able to share this moment with them and to be able to give them this moment too.
"They know how hard I work and all the effort I put in, so they're happy with me. It'll be great fun to continue celebrating with them later," she says.
Vanessa's mother, Toinie, ran towards the medal ceremony.
"No, but absolutely fantastic. Absolutely absolutely fantastic," she says quickly.
When Vanessa Kamga talks, she points to the bronze medal, very much so.
"It feels great! It feels like it's sitting where it's supposed to," she says.
Feel like you'll never stop smiling?
No, now I have another reason not to do it, says Kamga.
