Took bronze in the pole vault – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
– I wish she was here, Lillefosse said of her mother, who died of cancer.
– Tonight she follows me from a better place, said the 21-year-old, who has secured a rare EC bronze for Norway in the pole vault. But in the midst of all the joy over the medal, thoughts went to his mother, who did not get to experience this with him.
– It was one of the first things I thought of when I got the flag around me. I’ll be honest to say that I thought about it, said a moved bronze winner, who was comforted by NRK’s expert commentator Christina Vukicevic Demidov.
– It was hard to look up in the stands, and then there is someone missing there. I’m glad the rest of the family was there. It meant a lot to me today.
– How much of the credit does she have for you actually coming here?
– She has always had faith in me, even when I may not have had full faith in myself. At the same time, she has taught me to be a nice and humble guy. I’ll try to keep it that way. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her supporting me as much as she did.
– Do not understand what is happening
The 21-year-old impressed with a very strong opening of the EC final on Saturday.
He got over it very easily on the first attempt from starting at 5.50 until the height was added to 5.85 – only one centimeter away from his own Norwegian record.
But on Saturday, the Norwegian was nowhere near getting over the height.
However, it was enough for a bronze for Lillefosse, which was over 5.75 on its first attempt. It would prove to be absolutely decisive in the medal match.
The 21-year-old struggled to find the words after the EC final.
– I do not understand what is happening. I don’t really know, that is. It was… I don’t know what to say. It is big.
None of the others who jumped at the height managed 5.75 on the first attempt. The next height, 5.85, was only managed by German Bo Kanda Lita Baehre and Swedish Armand Duplantis.
Big favorite Duplantis secured the gold with a championship record 6.06, while Baehre took the silver with 5.85.
– I am almost speechless. Adrenaline pumps through the body. It was nerve-wracking to watch the others who had to “fail”, said coach Bjørn Åge Herdlevær after the bronze was a fact.
– At breakfast today, Pål said that “I’m going to win a medal today”. Medal in his first senior championship is insane.
Lillefosse confirms what the coach says.
– Yes I saw that. That’s what I was going for. I actually thought it was smoking when I didn’t go over 1.85. It was unnerving to look at those who were left.
Guttormsen got into trouble
Sondre Guttormsen had a slightly more complicated start to the EC final with a lot of uneven jumping. Guttormsen didn’t get over 5.85 either.
He also got over 5.75, but had to try for the height. Thus, he finally places himself behind Lillefosse in sixth place. Had Guttormsen managed 5.85, the bronze medal would have gone to him.
– 5.75 is good enough so far. But that doesn’t work. It will be too uneven, said father and trainer, Atle Guttormsen to NRK.