Aksel Kryhlmand
He slashed over six seconds off his personal best.
European Record for Andreas Almgren
Andreas Almgren, 30, set a new European record in the 5000 metres with a dominant victory at the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm, clocking 12:44.27.
I felt like I would hate myself if I did not give this a shot, Almgren said after the race.
Years of Struggles
After enduring several injury-plagued seasons, Almgren has emerged as one of Sweden’s top athletes and now the fastest European ever over 5000 metres.
In front of a raucous crowd at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium, Almgren surged ahead of the pack and on the final lap, the only question was how many records he would break. He slashed over six seconds off his personal best.
Crowd Support Made the Difference
The crowd really helped me push through,” Almgren said. “Usually at 3000 metres you still feel fresh, but it started hurting quite early today. Having people to help you through the pain is essential.
The previous European record of 12:45.01 was held by Spain’s Mohamed Katir, currently serving a four-year ban for doping violations.
It feels extra good considering his suspension, and the fact he kept me from running the World Championship final in 2023. But regardless of who held it, you want to break the record, especially when you feel in top form.
Almgreen added after the race.
A Night to Remember in Stockholm
Just as Almgren was making history on the track, Mondo Duplantis was setting a new world pole vault record nearby, creating a memorable evening of athletics.
Hopefully this is a moment many people will remember,” said Almgren, who stayed late to greet fans after the stadium had nearly emptied.
Many people told me they bought tickets just to see me. So everyone who wanted a selfie or an autograph got one. I still have a doping test to do, and I won’t be sleeping tonight anyway. So I might as well spend an extra hour here.
