A running test would decide whether the 29-year-old would be able to run the trials on 5,000 meters at the athletics arena Stade de France on Wednesday. Now it turns out that the stress reaction in the shinbone stops the runner from participating in the Olympic Games.
"I've been testing on a training track and run a bit at competition speed today, and both in terms of performance and pain, I'm not at the level I want to be. It's not enough for me to be able to perform as I want", says Andreas Almgren in a press release from the Swedish Athletics Federation.
"Four weeks without running"
He had a fantastic start to the Olympic year with Swedish records on both the half-mile and mile. In early June, he dreamed of European Championship gold in Rome on 10,000 meters, but the Swede finished fourth.
Then the stress reaction in the shinbone – which he had not had problems with before – made itself known.
It was about four weeks without running. Then you've had to do what you can to try to increase the running. It works pretty well until it's track and curves and spikes, more demanding angles, said Almgren during a press conference in Paris on Monday.
About a month ago, he made the decision to opt out of 10,000 meters at the Olympic Games to focus solely on the half-distance, but just one day before the trials were to begin, the Olympic dream also burst.
"Many theories"
"I've felt over the past few weeks that this has been the likely way to go, but you hope until the end. It was today I actually decided. I've had very many theories about why it turned out like this, but somehow I've done more than my body can handle", says Andreas Almgren.
The track season is now over. He hopes to be able to run some road or cross-country running later in the fall and winter. Now he's aiming for the next international championship in September next year.
"I'm already selected for the World Championship in Tokyo next year, so it's about getting back as quickly as possible", he says.
Born: June 12, 1995, in Sollentuna.
Club: Tureberg.
Almgren's Swedish records: 3:32.00 on 1,500 meters, 7:34.28 on 3,000 m, 12:50.94 on 5,000 m, 26:52.87 on 10,000 m, 27:20 on 10 km road, 59:23 on half-marathon (all outdoor). 7:34.31 on 3,000 m (indoor).
Current: Skipping the Olympic Games in Paris on 5,000 meters due to injury.
