Sun and 30 degrees are expected at the start of the 20-kilometer race at the EM in Rome. Perfect, thinks Perseus Karlström, who hopes that the heat training will lead him to gold.
The Swedish walking star has taken five medals at the EM and VM of athletics, but no gold. However, he won gold at the team EM in Antalya, Turkey, in April. This victory means a lot to the 34-year-old.
He has been training at a camp in Torrevieja, Spain, where it was very hot and humid, which makes the experience of heat even stronger.
He has been doing heat training for a few years, that is, training a lot in warm conditions, and thinks it has given results in competitions.
It's not just physical benefits that heat training gives, but also mental ones.
He says he can now press himself harder in competition.
Álvaro Martín is world champion and Perseus Karlström world runner-up. The Swede sees the Spaniard as his main competitor in the EM, but hopes that the heat will knock out Martín.
Born: May 2, 1990.
Club: Eskilstuna FI.
Personal best 20 km: 1:17:39
Medals: Gold in team VM (20 km) 2024, VM silver, 20 km, Budapest 2023, VM bronze, 20 km, Doha 2019, VM bronze, 20 km, Eugene 2022, VM bronze, 35 km, Eugene 2022. EM silver, 20 km, Munich 2022.
Current: Chasing his fifth VM medal.
