Daniel Ståhl and Simon Pettersson took gold and silver in discus and Armand Duplantis jumped home the pole gold.

In addition, the Swedish athletics team in Tokyo won final places in shot put, pole and height on the women's side, javelin on the men's side, and in both the men's and ladies' lengths.

This is a sign that more Swedish athletes should have been given the chance, says Karin Torneklint.

When she sums up the Olympics in Tokyo, she therefore repeats the criticism of SOK's selection criteria.

- This is the engine of our sport, that you can get to the championships.

If you remove the engine, what drives everyone to put in all these hours every day, then it chops, says the league captain.

"Does not get better"

SOK has been criticized, among other things, because Lovisa Lindh in the 800 meters was denied a ticket, despite the fact that she received an invitation from the International Athletics Federation thanks to her ranking.

Before the next Olympics, in Paris 2024, Karin Torneklint therefore wants the criteria to change.

- I think that we from Swedish athletics must work much more strategically towards SOK and the annual meeting to make a new decision, where we open up for those who qualify to be here, she says.

- It will not be a better Olympics if the one who is 33rd goes than the one who is 32nd.

Because that's how it will be if we say no to places.

Then there will be someone who is worse off than the one with us and I do not understand that.

"Must perform"

Torneklint stands by its criticism, despite the fact that, for example, Meraf Bahta and Sarah Lahti, who both finished the Olympics in the 10,000 meters relatively late, did not succeed in most of Saturday's Olympic finals.

- If you have qualified, you have something to do here.

You do not come here with a good result, but you have to perform at a high level, says Karin Torneklint.

- Then it goes well or badly, but it's another five.

That's what sports are.


SOK normally requires that an athlete has shown that they can compete for a top eight position to get an Olympic place.

Exceptions are made for talents who need experience before the upcoming Olympics.

Before the Olympics, SOK's operations manager Peter Reinebo opened to review the criteria.

- It has been quite a long time.

I see in front of me that with some regularity there will be a review and it is reasonable that it is reviewed every ten years so that you get an update ", said Reinebo to Swedish Radio.