For a year ago, he received the message that he could not run over hurdles throughout the summer due to a thigh injury.
Now he stands with a Swedish flag over his shoulders as a newly crowned European Championship bronze medallist on 400 meters hurdles – and as a Swedish record holder.
It feels incredibly good, says Carl Bengtröm.
He improved his personal record by 57 hundredths and erased Sven Nylander's Swedish record from the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 by four hundredths to 47.94.
It's a European Championship bronze, but above all, it's a Swedish record. It has been talked about since I broke through a few years ago. Most of it from the outside, but we also thought that the record was possible to beat, says Carl Bengtström.
It requires good races, and I got that today, and then it went fast, he says.
He says that he knew already when he set a personal record at the end of April, in the rain, that better times could be achieved.
I knew that something big was on the way if I got everything right. Now it was in a championship final with perfect conditions and optimal circumstances and good pressure from the stands – that's what was needed.
Takes the back of Warholm
The perfect back belongs to world record holder Karsten Warholm from Norway. He, of course, won the race.
I knew he would zoom past at some point, and then it was just a matter of trying to keep up. I had a good hang on him in the second curve, and that did a lot – gave motivation and fighting spirit to go "all in" on the last hurdles.
On a question from a Norwegian journalist about whether he can beat Warholm someday, Bengtström responds:
It will take a lot. He is the world record holder. I'm incredibly grateful to compete against him; he has helped me a lot to bring down my own times.
Do you get psyched when he runs past you early?
No, it's a bit humiliating, maybe, but at the same time, he does it to everyone in the whole world. I see it as an opportunity to get help.
"Hoping it can inspire"
Exactly a year ago, Bengtström recounts, he received a message from doctors that he wouldn't be able to run over hurdles throughout the summer season due to an injury in the back of his thigh.
Many athletes have shown that they can come back stronger after something like that, and now I'm standing here a year later with a Swedish record. I hope it can inspire others to keep working, and it will solve itself.
He says that he might run a season without hurdles someday.
I don't rule it out, but when I have the flow in the hurdles, I'll keep doing it.
He is clear for the World Championship in Paris and hopes to travel to Paris earlier in the summer to compete in the Diamond League gala.
I want to feel the atmosphere. Then it's full focus on the World Championship, which is the big goal for the summer.
Corrected: In an earlier version, a different finish time was stated for Bengtström. Correct is 47.94.
Facts: Carl Bengtström
Born: 13 January 2000.
Club: Örgryte.
Event: 400 meters hurdles.
Achievements: European Championship bronze 400 m hurdles 2024, Indoor World Championship bronze 400 m 2022, Indoor European Championship bronze 400 m 2023. Broke the 28-year-old Swedish record on 400 m hurdles with 47.94 at the European Championship 2024.
