Swedish athletics has been on a high in the last decade in terms of its overall success and popularity, but also literally as its high jumpers such as Stefan Holm, Kajsa Bergqvist, Linus Thörnblad, Emma Green have soared successfully over prodigious heights in competitions around the globe.
On 6 November, 500 spectators assembled in Gothenburg’s Friidrottens Hus to be entertained by a very special, arguably a unique competition, the Auto Lounge Comeback, which celebrated not just Sweden’s illustrious pedigree in this event but also the general fun and excitement inherent in high jumping.
The competition, which was officially sanctioned, drew together high jumping greats such as former World record holders Patrick Sjöberg and Dietmar Mögenburg, along with stars from other sports and a raft of Swedish television and radio celebrities.
The event was devised by Christian Skaar Thomassen, who from 1989-1999 trained under the guidance of the world famous Finnish High Jump coach Viljo Nousiainen who more famously helped direct the fortunes of Sjöberg, and Yannick Tregaro (among others coach to Bergqvist and Olsson), and Christian Olsson (later to become 2004 Olympic Triple Jump champion).
In 1999 when Nousiainen passed away, Thomassen quit the sport after a lot of injuries. But he never lost the hunger for that magic “competition feeling” and in 2007 arranged a low key high jump competition for some ex-athletes.
Having been bitten by the high jumping bug again Thomassen decided to aim higher in 2008, and after contacting Patrik Sjöberg who was enthused by the idea, suddenly had acceptances from German jumping greats Mögenburg and Carlo Thränhardt.
The entry list was soon filling up, with Håkon Särnblom from Norway (2.34m indoors in 1995), Tregaro and Mattias Ghansah (who was a prodigiously talented long jumper in his teens - 7.95m as a 16yr old) signing- up to compete.
To make things even more interesting also agreeing to take part were, Thomas Ravelli, the Swedish football team’s goalkeeping legend of the 1980s and 90s, Lars Frölander, 2000 Olympic 100m Butterfly champion, and four very famous Swedish TV hosts, while Sweden’s oldest high jumper Bengt Blomqvist (80yrs old) agreed to represent the real veterans.
Patrik Sjöberg (injured knee) was the main judge during the competition and Christian Olsson and Emma Green acted as his officials, though unfortunately, Thränhardt, who had plans to eliminate Men’s Age 50 High Jump World record (2.00m), injured himself the day before the event and could not take part.
Loud music was played with the competitors’ favourite songs echoing around the indoor hall, with everything from Rammstein (Mögenburg) to Barry White (Ravelli) heard.
Sjöberg, the 1987 World champion, even brought the shirt he wore when he set the World record in 1987 (2.42m) in Stockholm Stadion, and graciously let Swedish TV host Harald Treutiger jump in it.
The technique of 47-year-old Mögenburg was seen to be exactly the same as in 1984 when he won the Los Angeles Olympic title with 2.35m. In his comeback in Gothenburg he had an awesome jump over 1.80m and then he waited till 1.96m, a height at which he was close to but could not quite make.
The entertaining competition was won by Särnblom (42yrs) who produced a 1.90m leap, with Tregaro the runner-up, and Thomassen, third, while Mögenburg’s 1.80m earned him fourth.
Christian Skaar Thomassen and Chris Turner for the IAAF
RESULTS:
1. Håkon Särnblom (66) NOR 1.90m
2. Yannick Tregaro (78) 1.87m
3. Christian Skaar Thomassen (77) 1.84m
4. Dietmar Mögenburg (61) GER 1.80m
5. Thomas Ravelli (59) 1.60m
=6 Lars Frölander (74) 1.45m
=6 Matias Ghansah (74) 1.45m
8. Mats Lillienberg 1.40m (Swedish TV/Radio celeb)
9. Harald Treutiger (56) 1.30m (Swedish TV celeb)
10. Ingemar Allén (68) 1.20m (SwedishTV/Radio celeb)
11. Bengt Blomqvist (28) 1.10m
12. Linda Fyrebo 1.10 (SwedishTV/Radio celeb)
Video clip from the competition - http://gptv.gp.se/player/play/67561
