Andreas Almgren, the Savior?

– If only the weather is good, it will be really fun for the audience at the Stadium to watch Andreas run, says Urban Aruhn, who has been Andreas Almgren's coach since 2012.

At BAUHAUS-galan last year, Andreas Almgren set a Swedish record at 3,000 m with 7:34.28.

This year, Andreas Almgren will run 5,000 m at BAUHAUS-galan. He himself holds the Swedish record with 12:50.94 from last year. The last two times Andreas Almgren has competed at Stockholm Olympic Stadium, they have become Swedish records, first in the 5,000 m and then in the 3,000 m.

- I love competing at the Stadium, says Andreas Almgren.

- If the weather is good, I will definitely try to run fast.

This year, the men's 5,000 m is a Diamond League event, which means that several world stars will be at the start.

- It's good to have tough competition. It's an advantage to have someone to run against the whole way, says Andreas.

- It also makes it more fun for the audience.

Ever since Gunder Hägg and Arne Andersson set several world records and attracted large crowds to the country's athletics arenas in the 1940s, Swedish athletics has longed for a new running star.

In the 1960s, Dan Waern emerged as the new middle-distance star. He was a four-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 m in Rome in 1960, but was then, like Hägg and Andersson, disqualified by the Swedish Athletics Federation's zealous board for violating amateur rules.

Ten years later, Anders Gärderud presented himself as a world record holder in the 3,000 m steeplechase. He made his mark in Swedish sports history by winning Olympic gold in a new world record in 1976.

In the shadow of Gärderud, Dan Glans emerged as a world-class steeplechase runner. He kept up with the pace until the 1980s.

In the 1970s, Bengt Nåjde raised hopes that he was on his way to becoming a top-class runner. He fought bravely in his races, but never quite made it.

Sara Wedlund was world-class in the 5,000 m in 1995 and 1996, but then her all-too-short career was over.

Since then, there have been few and far between Swedish runners of high class. For many years now, Swedish athletics has longed for a world-class runner. Andreas Almgren's strong season last year and his brilliant start to 2025 with a European record at the 10 km road race have created expectations for the upcoming track season.

- It's not something that bothers me, comments Andreas Almgren.

- I want to be in this position.

- Now the last step remains - to become so good that I can be one of the best fighting for medals in the World Championships.

Andreas ran 190 km a week when basic training began. Now that the competition season is approaching, he has cut back on the amount.

- I am significantly better than a year ago, says Andreas.

– The results and endurance tests are better. I have a higher lactic acid tolerance and am faster. I also have more experience.

Before the outdoor season begins, the 30-year-old Turebergs runner plans to test his form in the 3,000 m indoors. He will run the Swedish Indoor Championships on February 22-23 and then has his sights set on the European Indoor Championships, which will be held in the Netherlands on March 6-9. Andreas himself has held the Swedish record since 2022 with 3.34.31.

– I want to gain experience from running championship races, explains Almgren, who missed the Olympics last year due to injury.

– Of course, I am aiming for a medal at the European Indoor Championships.

Running to get a good placement is important this year:

– Andreas did not win any of his top races last year, Urban Aruhn points out.

– We have worked to increase muscular strength. Andreas has an extreme running economy and he is already durable, but he needs to get faster so that Andreas has more tools in his toolbox. In the important track races, it is important to be there when the final lap starts and then be able to rely on your speed.

Ten years ago, Andreas Almgren ran 800 m in 1:45.59. Now Urban Aruhn hopes that he will get that quickness back in his stride.

– It was very positive that he sprinted home the victory in the tough 10 km race in Valencia in January, where he recorded the European record.

Andreas agrees, and believes that combining endurance and speed will work well:

– I am the only runner in the world who has done under 1:46 in 800 m and also done under 27:00 in 10,000 m.

Last year, when the Olympics were the big goal, Andreas Almgren ran his training sessions in training shoes at the beginning of the season to save his legs. He was then used to running in spikes, and therefore had injury problems when it was time to start competing in spikes, which forced him to withdraw from the Olympics.

This year, when the World Championships in Tokyo in September are the big goal.

There are two ways to qualify for the World Championships; either by achieving a world-class result, or by gaining ranking points from the season's most important athletics galas.

Andreas Almgren aims to qualify through top results. The qualifying time for the 10,000 m is 27.00 and for the 5,000 m 13.01.

– I have already qualified for the 10,000 m through my Swedish record of 26.52.87 last year.

– I have the capacity to fix the qualifying time for the 5,000 m this summer. My personal best is 12.50.

– It would be nice if I could already qualify at the Bauhaus gala.

Here are all of Andreas Almgren's Swedish records from the past year:

Half marathon 59.23 -24

10 km road 27.20 -24

1,500 m 3.32.00 -24

10,000 m 26.52.87 -24

5,000 m 12.59.82 -24

5,000 m 12.50.94 -24

3,000 m 7.34.28 -24 BAUHAUS-galan

10 km road 26.53 -25 European record

- Andreas should be better this year and even better next year, says Urban Aruhn.

To avoid injuries, Andreas will compete sparingly on the track during the summer. After BAUHAUS-galan, only the Diamond League gala in Monaco on July 11 is planned.

At the World Championships, Andreas aims to run both 5,000 m and 10,000 m.

After the 10,000 m, there is a five-day rest before the 5,000 m attempt and then another day of rest before the final, which makes it easier when it comes to the tough double.

– I am mainly focusing on the 10,000 m. I should have the best chances there. The speed at that distance suits me well, explains Andreas.

Text: Anders Olsson