He finished without a Swedish flag, which was disturbing.
- This is cruel, it's sick.
I finally got a Swedish flag, it had gotten lost in the luggage, says Karlström to SVT Sport and gets a flag shortly after the race.
Karlström crossed the finish line with a happy smile and congratulated the Japanese close duo Toshikazu Yamanishi, who he also lifted, and Koki Ikeda.
The expert: "Feels even bigger"
- It was very big last time but to be able to repeat it feels even bigger, says SVT Sports expert Birger Fält.
It looked dark at the end when Karlström had to let go of the Kenyan Gathimba in the battle for the bronze, but the Swede, encouraged by his mother and national team captain Siv Gustavsson, found the strength at the end and was able to win the bronze duel.
- I thought it was gone at 14-15 km but got good criticism from my coach and was able to kick start and dig myself down and came back in the race and was also involved in leading the race, says Karlström.
Yamanishi defended his World Cup gold from Doha.
Eleven seconds from the gold
In the end, Karlström, with a time of 1.19.18, was only eleven seconds from the gold and four from the silver.
- I had a fight with Gathimba once, twice and three times and he pressured me so that I vomited bile.
It's cruel, says Karlström about the test of strength and is forced to take a break during the interview after low blood pressure.
- I have to sit down, says a panting Karlström and sinks down to the asphalt.
After 15 km, the competition broke up a bit and Karlström had to drop a small gap to the medal trio as four.
He quickly turned it around and grabbed the lead and pulled the field towards the goal on the one-kilometer course that went 20 laps on a street just outside Hayward Field where the arena branches are decided.
Karlström has an even greater medal chance of 35 km which will be decided in nine days.