Namita Nayyar:
In your first international competition, the World Youth Championship in Italy, you took the athletic world by storm by becoming the first Swedish to win a gold medal in a World Youth Championship. How did you feel after creating this incredible benchmark?
Angelica Bengtsson:
Even though my team mate had jumped higher than me before that competition, I was very sure to win. I even said during an interview after the qualification that I would probably jump 4.30m during the final and win, when I had a PB of 4.10m. And I jumped 4.32m! So I was not surprised and I was not nervous, but I still look back to that competition as the most joyful competition I’ve ever done. My whole family was there, and my team mate was/is one of my best friends and her coach had already great experience with international championships, so the whole atmosphere around that competition was very safe and just felt completely right. So for my personal career in pole vault the World Youth Championships in Italy was very important for me to look back to, in hard times.
Namita Nayyar:
Your motto for success, “The one who walks in others` footsteps will never come first”, has been often taken about. Explain?
Angelica Bengtsson:
No one really knows how the most efficient pole vault technique looks like, so I am philosophising around my own personal technique. I know that if I try to copy another ones technique, I will never be able to fully copy it and therefor be limited to jump either as high, or most likely, lower that that person that I’m trying to copy. Luckily I am a woman, so I can with success try to copy the men and still jump higher than women in general. That’s why I went to France for three years, to learn from the best men in the world.
Namita Nayyar:
To perform your best you need to fuel your body well too, what does your breakfast include? Also, what snacks do you like to munch on during or post training?
Angelica Bengtsson:
As I often have bad appetite, especially in the morning, my breakfast is a smoothie, 2dl of low fat milk, 1dl frozen raspberries, 1dl oats, 1 banana and a tablespoon of peanuts. During and post training I love to eat chocolate. I know it’s not the most healthy snack at all, but during training I need the sugar, and after I need the calories. The bad is that they clog my veins, but tests shows that my veins are in excellent condition anyway, thanks to my active lifestyle.
Namita Nayyar:
Your biggest pole vault inspiration?
Angelica Bengtsson:
Sandi Morris’ win at the Indoor World Championships won great respect from my side, so I would say that she is my biggest inspiration at the moment.
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