It has been eight years since Meraf Bahta took a golden place in the blue-yellow history of athletics.
The refugee from Eritrea made his first championship for his new homeland, and won European Championship gold in the 5000 meters.
Two years later, she took European Championship silver at the same distance, and 2018 European Championship bronze in 10,000 meters.
A medal she lost due to a doping ban.
- I had no effect in the body, so it is not about doping, but about the system, says Meraf Bahta.
Claims language confusion
However, the system is the same for everyone.
Meraf Bahta had made repeated mistakes in the stay reporting, something she still claims was due to language confusion.
The doping committee acquitted her, but the doping commission set the sentence at one year suspension.
Then came the corona period, which in total meant several lost years.
Now she is finally on the move, strengthened by the silver in the European Championships in cross-country running in December, and by the fact that she has broken the Swedish record on both 5 and 10 kilometers of road.
- Right now I train the most, and closer to the season it will be more speed, she says
Can you still be as good as when you won European Championship gold in 2014?
- The feeling is yes, I am really stronger mentally and in everything.
Are you still as fast in the sprint?
- I have never lost in speed, so it feels good.
Both the European Championships and the World Cup are looming
She recently finished 17th in the 3000-meter indoor world championships, a result that is hopefully a parenthesis.
The distance was short for her, nor does she like to run indoors.
Outdoors is at the door, and the question is whether the soon-to-be 33-year-old Meraf Bahta has more to give, after all she has gone through.
This summer, both the European Championships and the World Championships in athletics will be decided, and Bahta is currently in both 5000 and 10000 meters.
- I want results in both the European Championships and the World Cup, and should just think about looking ahead, says Meraf Bahta to SVT Sport.
See the full report here:
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Bahta is chasing the European Championship gold form from 2014