Confederation captain Kajsa Bergqvist self-critical: "We have lost too many juniors"

From her own career as a high jumper, there were two silvers at the junior level at the major championships for Kajsa Bergqvist.

Then it took a few more years before she really broke through.

- I gained a few centimeters a year and sometimes it even went backwards a little. It took four years before I took that last step up to the senior elite, she says.

- Sometimes it takes time and it can be frustrating. So it is important to be patient and build long-term.

"A few take the plunge right away"

According to Bergqvist, work is underway to better help promising track and field athletes on their journey to the senior elite.

Among other things through the "Olympic Offensive" which started in 2022 and which is a collaboration between Swedish athletics and the SOK, the Swedish Olympic Committee.

- There are only a few who take this step immediately. Mondo Duplantis for example. He was the world's best junior, the following year he was the world's best senior. It must be remembered that there are very few who succeed in this.

Hear more from Kajsa Bergqvist in the player above.