19th April 2012 08:54
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| Swedish long jumper Michel Tornéus, sprinter Moa Hjelmer and former high jump star Stefan Holm at the Helsinki 2012 press conference in Stockholm. (Photo by Helsinki 2012 LOC) |
With some glorious success in recent major Championships, Sweden has been one of the success stories of European athletics during the last 10 years. The yellow and blue team is now shifting their high hopes from the older stars to the younger generation.
Swedish team coach, Stefan Olsson, highlights that the current Swedish team is in high spirits, is well prepared and ready to surprise athletics fans at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium during the 27 June to 1 July Championships.
'The Swedish team have always had an interesting experience in Helsinki, and I don't think this year will be any different,' said Olsson.
During the European Athletics Championships, Olsson believes the Swedish team can benefit from their vast experience of competing in Helsinki, and get the Finnish audience behind the Swedish stars.
'In the traditional Finnkampen, the annual match between Finland and Sweden, the Finnish audience try to make our Swedish athletes feel as small as possible, to try to interfere with their performance. But during the European Athletics Championships I believe that the Finnish crowd will really get behind the Swedish athletes who are familiar to them. This makes the Olympic stadium a home away from home for us this year.'
Hjelmer in the fast lane
The rising star of Swedish sprinting, Moa Hjelmer, is looking forward to the European Athletics Championships and her double chances at the 200m and 400m. Hjelmer, 21, is a World Indoor Championships semi-finalist from last winter and has improved her personal best by more than 4 seconds in three years, taking the national record of 51.58 last summer. Having raced a couple of times at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Hjelmer is hoping for some similar success that she has experienced there in the past.
'I have competed in many good competitions in Helsinki and I have normally produced some good results, so I feel confident about walking into the stadium and competing in front of the Finnish audience.'
The rivalry between the Finns and Swedes is still as prominent as ever, but for Hjelmer coming to race in Helsinki is somewhat similar to competing in front of a home crowd.
'I remember walking into the stadium last year and already feeling like a winner.'
Torneus looking for a giant leap
Long jumper Michel Tornéus is also striving for success at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Last year the 25-year-old Swede marked his personal best of 8.19 and is now aiming for even further.
'I have been training really hard. Trying to fill in the spaces within my technique, and I'm enjoying myself also which is important to me. Now we are leaving to San Diego and there I plan to put in 110 per cent to be in the best form to come to compete in Helsinki.'
Having started out in a Finnish athletics club in Sweden, Michel feels at home around the Finnish audience, which he believes helps him to succeed in Helsinki.
'The Scandinavian record of 8.25 is definitely on my mind. If I can produce that kind of jump in Helsinki I will be able to fight for the top positions, but the most important thing for me is that I do the best for my country and my team whilst having fun doing what I love to do.'
With his young guns Olsson has a reason to smile.
'It is too early to set specific goals for Helsinki, but anything from 3 to 6 medals is possible for us', Olsson predicts.