HOW CAN WE BE NORWEGIAN?
We’re always looking to learn something new, and at these championships, we want to know how to be an Ingebrigtsen, or run like one at least. In fact, how to be Norwegian in general.
This evening, 18-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen did the unthinkable, becoming the youngest ever male indoor European champion and securing Norway’s first ever European Indoor gold. He not only shone the brightest of lights on his country, but the whole Ingebrigtsen clan. His eldest brother, Henrik, took the bronze, making it a real family affair. The magic didn’t stop there, within half-an-hour, world and European 400m hurdles champion, Karsten Warholm, doubled Norway’s gold medal tally- which up until today, had stood at zero for the past 50 years. Can you see why we’re jumping on the Norwegian hype now??
Plus, they’re all just cool, right.
HOW IS KRISTAL AWUAH FEELING?
By the looks of things, we think she’s feeling proud. One of our #OnestoWatch in 2019, Kristal has been on our radar for a while, and it’s no surprise considering her fabulous indoor form, that she finished forth in Europe this evening in a lifetime best of 7.15. Speaking to British Athletics, the teenager says, “My aim was to put my race together better and to add a little bit more because it’s the final and to come away with a medal but that didn’t happen. I’ve learnt a lot about myself today and I came away with a PB which is massive for me heading into the outdoor season. Everything has come so quickly and I’m amazed with how quickly I’ve improved over my 60m and I’m looking forward to getting quicker and stronger.”
Fellow Brit, Asha Philip, took the bronze in the same time of 7.15, demonstrating the true calibre of athletes in the field and really how tight it was on the line. There was no doubt of the gold medal winner though, Poland’s golden girl Ewa Swoboda.
HOW IT FEELS WATCHING YOUR SIBLING AT THE EUROS…
Siblings and training partners, Laura and Lisanne de Witte are the Netherlands’ top 400m sprinters. Yesterday, Laura watched her older sister Lisanna from the stands in her 400m Semi-Final, and it’s safe to say she was pretty nervous. This evening, the European outdoor bronze medallist added the indoor bronze to her collection.
There’s no footage of Laura from her sister’s final this evening, but her Dutch screams of support were most definitely heard!
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE MARI SMITH RIGHT NOW?
It was quite the moment in Birmingham when Mari Smith ran her heart out to get that sub 2:03 qualification standard. Just two weeks’ later, the Birchfield Harrier is in the European Indoor Championships 800m Final. Interestingly, she’s thinking logistically, and we like it. Number of race socks > everything else.
Speaking to British Athletics after her race she says:
“It feels pretty good, I don’t think it has sunk in yet. It played out exactly how I’d dreamed – I just stayed with them long enough to show my strength in the last 200m.
“I just planned to try and stay with the group – as I say – as long as I could, and then I had to make my move because I ended up wider that I thought I was going to be so thought ‘now’s the time, now’s the time, time to dig!’ I’m going to be dead after this next run, that’s the aim. There’s only 6 in the final so I’ve done pretty well to get there. I’ll just be running for fun!”
HOW DOES KATERINA STEFANIDI VAULT 4.91M BUT SHE’S AFRAID OF HEIGHTS??
Her husband does a lot of house renovations, and initially she wouldn’t even go up a ladder on to the second step. But, she says the pole vault is a whole different ball game and doesn’t scare her what-so-ever. Just the ladders then. Noted.
HOW, JUST HOW.
Our exact reaction this morning.
Placing a camera worth more than most people’s car, right next to world class shot putters was wise, too wise.
