Who can ever forget the golden haul of the Swedish Big Three at the Athens Olympics? Stefan Holm, Carolina Klüft and Christian Olsson were role models, and were well-loved by the fans. I found it astounding how a country of nine million could win three athletics gold medals in a single Olympic Games. Since then, Holm had retired and Kluft had shifted to another event.
Olsson, however, has been bedevilled by injury ever since the Athens Olympics. From a 17.79m outdoor personal best in 2004, en route to his Olympic gold, Olsson’s performance suffered. Although he won European Championship gold in front of his home crowd in Goteborg, he could not seem to regain his top form.
The Swede, being the true champion that he is, fought his way to a hard earned 4th place finish at the 2010 World Indoor Championships (17.23m). A year later, Olsson placed 5th at the European Indoor Championships in Paris (17.20m). The Athens Olympic Champion returned to the World Championships in Daegu, eight years after winning his first world title in Paris. Olsson posted a best mark of 17.23m, good enough for sixth place over-all.
Despite the rise of the new generation of triple jumpers, I’ve always rooted for Olsson. I never stopped hoping for a miracle performance for the Great Swede. I cheered for the guy as he went against the new titans of the triple jump. He has suffered enough. Olsson deserves a heartwarming comeback story.
But fairy tale endings, more often than not, are hard to come by. After suffering yet another injury in a training camp in the U.S. , Olsson decided to hang up his spikes.
Even if I never competed as triple jumper – even if I live thousands of miles away from Sweden – Olsson will always be an inspiration. His intensity and tenacity were infectious. To Christian Olsson, thank you!
The indefatigable American sprint hurdler announced his retirement from the sport, 14 years after winning the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medal.
Allen Johnson’s accolades in the 110 high’s are unparalleled. Allen has the most sub-13 races among all hurdlers in history. His personal best of 12.92 (which he set twice in 1996) ranks him as the 6th fastest sprint hurdler of all time. Who (in the track circles at least) can ever forget Johnson’s four, straight World Championships win (1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003)? Allen’s last major international podium finish was at the 2008 World Indoor Championships, where he ran 7.55s for the silver medal.
Despite all these, the great Johnson remained down-to-earth, always ready to lend a helping hand to the younger crop of professional athletes (or to respond to emails from fans as faraway as Southeast Asia). Johnson, unlike the stereotypical American sprinter, was never brash or prone to trash talking. Allen is every inch the true sportsman.
Even if I haven’t met Allen personally, it feels as if I’ve known him all along from all the track & field articles I’ve read and hurdles clips I’ve seen.
Only a month ago, a Universal Sports article about Johnson came out, highlighting the 39-year old’s bid to clock a sub-13.20 – a new age-group record, should he achieve the feat.
It saddens me to learn that one of the sport’s icons called it quits. But then again, Johnson has been on borrowed time. No one in recent times had remained at the top of this grueling event for so long (note: Donald Finlay of Great Britain competed in the 1948 London Olympics as a 39-year old).
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