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27.4.07 The head sponsor of the IAAF Golden League meeting in Brussels, ‘Belgacom’, hosted a press conference (17) in the Belgian capital to present the 31st edition of the “Memorial Van Damme”. The fifth stage of the IAAF Golden League 2007 will be held on 14 September. Meeting director Wilfried Meert was happy to introduce two of the main stars of the meeting, high jumpers Kajsa Bergqvist and Tia Hellebaut. “We do not expect the Women’s High Jump to take a share of the ($1 Million) Golden League Jackpot”, said Bergqvist and Hellebaut. “The competition in the event is so strong these days that nobody seems able to win in five or six Golden League meetings.” Phenomenal
Tia Hellebaut upset Bergqvist to become the 2006 European champion in Göteborg, but that is not on the Swede’s mind anymore: “Of course I was disappointed at that time, but no more than I would be on any other occasion in any other venue. I want to win every competition that I participate in, but you have to accept a defeat whenever it occurs. That’s part of sports as well”. Hellebaut continued her winning streak at the European Indoors Championships recently. Bergqvist didn’t sign up. “In my last indoor competition before Birmingham I felt clumsy with my technique,” said Bergqvist, “it made little sense to compete in those conditions." Actually, the dominant way in which Tia won the European title didn’t really surprise me. But her performance level at 2.05m was phenomenal. After all, I was happy that my World indoor record survived the competition.” Kostandinova’s 20-year-old legacy
Many observers consider the women’s outdoor High Jump World record to be in danger this year. The level is high and the competition is strong. “People in Sweden, Belgium and Croatia like to think about it that way”, laughs Bergqvist. “But indeed, the more girls prove able to compete at 2.05m levels, the closer we get to the World record. I have been training well this winter, I changed a few things in my technique and I feel ready to face new challenges. Last year I jumped 2.08m indoors and I’m convinced that there is more to come.” Hellebaut also feels very confident: “I’m perfectly on schedule things are going extremely well in training. But I take on things step by step. When you jump 2.00m, the next goal has to be to jump 2.01m.” The actual World record belongs to Stefka Kostadinova (BUL), who jumped 2.09m on 30 August 1987, almost 20 years ago. “In the very early stages of my career I have competed against Stefka, but I was still a youngster”, says Bergqvist. “She is the greatest high jumper of all time and we will need to work hard to take that away from her”. Hellebaut met Kostandinova only once, but she remembers watching the Bulgarian on TV. “She was quite fast on the curve and she had a very solid technique. I think she was ahead of her time and she was a very attractive type of jumper to watch.” Respect and friendship
Bergqvist and Hellebaut have become good friends on the circuit. They both respect each other. “Tia contributed a lot to the event. She brings in her strength as a former heptathlete. She is also a great personality and that is very important in contemporary sports. The media and the fans don’t only look at the athletes only as sportsmen but also as personalities.” Hellebaut is happy with the compliments of Bergqvist. “Kajsa has always been my idol. She has inspired me a lot as a high jumper, but also as a person. I appreciate the way she acts and behaves a lot.” (source: http://www.iaaf.org/GLE07/news/Kind=2/newsId=38349.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.2.07 Kajsa is a little bit frustrated about how the beginning of this indoor season has turned out. Read what she said: “Four meets at 1.95-1.97 was not what I had expected after having been able to train according to plan during the autumn and earlier winter,” said the Swede, who last year raised the World record indoors to 2.08. “I am 5-7 centimeters below my previous level, I just haven't got the rhythm and the quickness in my run-up and therefore not the necessary lift off the ground.” “When you are in form everything just comes naturally and you don't have to think about any details technically,” Bergqvist continued. “Now I have perhaps been thinking too much about what is wrong. However, it did feel better in Banská Bystrica last week where I was quite close to making 2.00 for the first time this year. So hopefully I will get it (here) instead.” Let's hope that Kajsa will find her form as quickly as possible. She took the first step by winning the GE Galan in Stockholm last night. She won with a height of 1.98 followed by Blanca Vlasic (CRO) and Venelina Veneva (BUL) (both 1.95). -------------------------------------------------------------------- 27.1.07 Victory for Sweden at the Norwich Union Indoor International in Glasgow: Kajsa Bergqvist won the high jump with 1.96m :-) She was a bit disappointed about the height. Susanna Kallur won the 60 m hurdles and flat and Christian Olsson the three-jump. --> Go To: http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=37382.html -------------------------------------------------------------------- 9.1.07 Kajsa didn't win the prize for European Female Athlete of the year. She ended up on the 5th place.The Winner is Carolina Klüft, the Swedish allround superstar. --> Go to: http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=37181.html -------------------------------------------------------------------- 30.12.06 The IAAF has just announced that High Jump will be a Golden League Event also in 2007! So let's hope that there will be a lot of interesting competitions with hopefully successful endings for Kajsa!!
--> Go to: www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=37096.html -------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.11.06 Sadly, Kajsa did'nt win the price for 2006 Performance of the Year. Masaret Defar won for breaking the 5000m World Record in New York City this year. Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Sanya Richards of the USA have been awarded the titles of 2006 World Athletes of the Year. --> Go to: http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=512/newsId=36753.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- 11.11.06 Instead of becoming "2006 World Athlete of the Year" Kajsa is one out of three finalists to get the price of 2006 Performance of the Year. The shortlist of 6 names (3 men and 3 women) will now be presented to a Special Jury of the International Athletic Foundation, who will make the final selection of the Performances of the Year and announce the winners, live on stage, at the 2006 World Athletics Gala on Sunday 12 November. So let's hope that she will win that price - she really deserves it! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 09.11.06 Unfortunately, Kajsa didn't reach the final for becoming 2006 World Athlete of the Year. So let's hope that she's gonna win the price for "Performance of the year" at the Swedish Athletics Gala in January next year. If there's an opportunity to vote for her, we will post it here as soon as we know! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 06.11.06 The eyes of the athletics world will be on the Principality of Monaco next weekend. On Sunday 12 November, the prestigious annual World Athletics Gala will be hosted at the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Eté, Monte-Carlo. The highlight of the evening will of course be the announcement of the Male and Female World Athletes of the Year, with the winners being announced live on stage. The Gala will also give the Athletics family the opportunity to honour other outstanding athletic achievements via the Performance of the Year, Distinguished Career, Rising Star, and Coaches’ Awards. We hope that you gave your vote for Kajsa!! :-) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 19.10.06 There's a new fanpage about Kajsa! It's still "under construction" but really worth having a look at it!! --> Go to: www.kajsabergqvist.nu --------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.10.06 Help Kajsa become "2006 World Athlete of the Year"! Vote for Kajsa!! --> Go to: http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=36533.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.10.06 It's Kajsa's 30th birthday today! We wish her all the best and good luck for another successful season in 2007! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.10.06 Don't forget - it's Kajsa's birthday on Thursday! Leave her a message in the guestbook... --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7.10.06 Welcome to go4kajsa! News and results of Kajsa Bergqvist will be posted here soon.
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