Despite the fact that the sport was put on pause when the corona pandemic broke out around the world, Angelica Bengtsson earned more money in 2020 than in the previous year.

Thanks to a strong season in 2019, she managed to attract new sponsors, which increased her income.

At the same time, Armand Duplanti's progress gave the pole vaulters several chances to jump for prize money in the middle of a burning pandemic.

- When athletics could not arrange large galas with spectators, they did competitions with one branch at a time and then pole vault competitions were diligently arranged.

And since I am one of the best in the world, I was one of those who got the chance to jump for prize money, says Angelica Bengtsson to SVT Sport.

"Did not feel so desired"

In SVT Sports' survey, 9 out of 21 Olympic-ready Swedish athletes state that they were negatively affected financially during the pandemic.

Only Angelica Bengtsson states that she has been positively affected financially.

In addition to sponsorship income and prize money, the pole vaulter also chose to work extra, which helped her financially but above all mentally.

- My siblings have children in kindergarten.

They received a survey with the question of whether you have a socially important job, because if you did not have it, you would stay at home with the children.

At that time, my job was not on that list at the same time as the state worked to keep most jobs going, but they did not want to keep culture and sports going at all in the beginning.

At the same time as the Olympics disappeared, I felt so wanted, she says.

The extra work increased motivation

Bengtsson applied for several jobs and eventually got a yes from Svenska spel and Post Nord.

At Svenska spel she called new millionaires and at Post Nord she worked two or three days a week sorting packages.

- There was a crisis in Sweden and I guess you feel the same when there is war, you want to help.

At Post Nord, I got to help get gloves and mouth guards out to the hospitals.

It felt very good to do good.

The jobs helped Bengtsson find the motivation for the sport again.

- It was probably very important actually.

I agreed with my coach, because purely in sports it is not good to lift heavy packages all night.

But it was nice to break the sports rules and put sports aside.

CLIP: See the whole feature with Angelica Bengtsson

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See the whole feature with Angelica Bengtsson