Emma Gullstrand's European Championship bronze in the three-meter failure has been described as a bang.

But she herself does not sound particularly surprised when SVT Sport reaches her the day after the final.

- I felt very unexpectedly calm.

I felt more tagged and I was actually trying to get a little more nervous than I actually was.

I knew it would go well, it's a feeling I've not had before.

But the road to bronze has not been straight.

The 20-year-old from Jönköping describes the trip as "interesting" with several injuries and many obstacles.

The worst was when the corona pandemic struck last year.

"Motivation was so low I did not want to continue"

- Motivation went down after everything was canceled.

It was heavy, it was really heavy.

At the end of the year, I just felt "I have to get out of here, I can't stay here anymore".

The motivation was so far down that I did not want to continue, says Gullstrand.

- It was hard to get up in the morning, I did not want to go and train in the bath, It was kind of just me there.

It was difficult, but you had to remind yourself that it will drop some day.

The turning point came in early 2021 when she contacted a coach in the United States and managed to get a scholarship to study and practice swimming at the University of Miami.

- The motivation skyrocketed again, says Gullstrand.

- That's the best thing that could have happened.

My dream has always been to go to the USA and go to college there, it has been my goal since I was little.

You have to broaden your horizons and grow as both a human being and a jumper.

Gullstrand arrived in the United States in early February.

For two and a half months, she was able to focus on details - and the new hope that reached all the way to the European Championship bronze: Two and a half volts with a double screw.

- A girl series is really only with one screw, but I have taken it a step further and run with two screws.

I was the only one who did this, it's pretty cool, she says.

Dreaming of the Olympics: "Done all I can"

The big goal now is to represent Sweden at the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.

- I remember when you were a little and started jumping and thought "think about going to an Olympics".

The dream is there, it's so sick big.

After the final, Sweden's national team captain, the legend Ulrika Knape Lindberg said:

- If we get a quota place, Emma must be allowed to go.

Otherwise, SOK makes a mistake.

- It means a lot to me that Ulrika says that.

I have done everything I can this season to be able to take an Olympic place to Sweden.

But I also know that it's not up to me, I'll see how far it simply goes.