Angelica Bengtsson is a Swedish track and field athlete who specialises in the pole vault. She became the first pole vault winner at the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore, 2010. She has been a highly successful youth and junior athlete, winning gold medals at the 2009 World Youth Championships and the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics, and is now excelling as a senior athlete.
For all her fans out there, you must read Women Fitness’ exclusive interview with Angelica Bengtsson.
Namita Nayyar:
Starting out early, at 16 you became the best pole vaulter in Sweden. What motivated you to take up this sport as a career?
Angelica Bengtsson:
I had already decided, when I was 11 years old, that I should give pole vault a shot to become the best in the world. Almost right away, I took local records in pole vault, in age categories several years older than me, so I was convinced that I had a talent that I should not reject.
Namita Nayyar:
What is the best part about having your father as your coach?
Angelica Bengtsson:
I do not have him as a coach anymore, however we were a team from when I started with athletics until 2012, and also during 2016 and 2017. The best part was that he knew me so well. In pole vault there are many decisions to take during the competition and as we were that tight, we could take the right decisions, even before anyone else could see the need of any decision making.
Full Interview Continued On Next Page
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All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
In your first international competition, the World Youth Championship in Italy, you took the athletic world by storm by becoming the first Swedish to win a gold medal in a World Youth Championship. How did you feel after creating this incredible benchmark?
Angelica Bengtsson:
Even though my team mate had jumped higher than me before that competition, I was very sure to win. I even said during an interview after the qualification that I would probably jump 4.30m during the final and win, when I had a PB of 4.10m. And I jumped 4.32m! So I was not surprised and I was not nervous, but I still look back to that competition as the most joyful competition I’ve ever done. My whole family was there, and my team mate was/is one of my best friends and her coach had already great experience with international championships, so the whole atmosphere around that competition was very safe and just felt completely right. So for my personal career in pole vault the World Youth Championships in Italy was very important for me to look back to, in hard times.
Namita Nayyar:
Your motto for success, “The one who walks in others` footsteps will never come first”, has been often taken about. Explain?
Angelica Bengtsson:
No one really knows how the most efficient pole vault technique looks like, so I am philosophising around my own personal technique. I know that if I try to copy another ones technique, I will never be able to fully copy it and therefor be limited to jump either as high, or most likely, lower that that person that I’m trying to copy. Luckily I am a woman, so I can with success try to copy the men and still jump higher than women in general. That’s why I went to France for three years, to learn from the best men in the world.
Namita Nayyar:
To perform your best you need to fuel your body well too, what does your breakfast include? Also, what snacks do you like to munch on during or post training?
Angelica Bengtsson:
As I often have bad appetite, especially in the morning, my breakfast is a smoothie, 2dl of low fat milk, 1dl frozen raspberries, 1dl oats, 1 banana and a tablespoon of peanuts. During and post training I love to eat chocolate. I know it’s not the most healthy snack at all, but during training I need the sugar, and after I need the calories. The bad is that they clog my veins, but tests shows that my veins are in excellent condition anyway, thanks to my active lifestyle.
Namita Nayyar:
Your biggest pole vault inspiration?
Angelica Bengtsson:
Sandi Morris’ win at the Indoor World Championships won great respect from my side, so I would say that she is my biggest inspiration at the moment.
Namita Nayyar:
You have stood 3rd twice at the European Indoor Championships, what training routine do you follow to stay fit & strong?
Angelica Bengtsson:
I’ve also succeeded to come 3rd one time outdoor. I train 6 days a week, two times pole vault, two times sprint, two times strength and together with that we add a session of gymnastics and yoga for my wellbeing.
Namita Nayyar:
5 Favorite exercises that are a must in your workout routine.
Angelica Bengtsson:
I love all exercises that includes the arms. During the day I do handstands anytime I have the chance and before I go to sleep I find that some pushups help to get tired enough to fall asleep faster. Other exercises I love are muscle ups in the olympic rings, straight pullovers (typical pole vault exercise) and jerk.
Namita Nayyar:
What does Women Fitness mean to you? Why health needs to be a priority?
Angelica Bengtsson:
The woman is a very complicated organism, purely biology wise, with all hormones that differ from time to time during the month. Therefore it’s even more important for women to be in balance and to stay healthy, to be able to resist in those moments when our body threatens to try to kill us from the inside.
Namita Nayyar:
Biggest challenges you faced after entering the competitions?
Angelica Bengtsson:
There are always those last attempts at a height. The way to tackle them is to convince myself that the audience expect me to fail now anyways, so if I succeed everyone would be so surprised and happy. So when I stand there before my last attempt I am thinking about how happy everyone becomes when I surprisingly succeed and I find myself smiling. Then I often also succeed.
Namita Nayyar:
What upcoming competitions are you preparing for now?
Angelica Bengtsson:
The big competition that is ahead now is the Indoor Europeans Championships in Glasgow, in March. However, the training I do now will make the base for the whole year of competitions during 2019, even the World Championships in Doha in October.
Namita Nayyar:
5 things you always carry in your bag during gym session?
Angelica Bengtsson:
Spikes, glue, tape, underarm protection, chocolate.
Namita Nayyar:
Athletic clothing you love to wear?
Angelica Bengtsson:
Tight shorts and a sports bra. Why I love summer so much.
Namita Nayyar:
Message for Women Fitness viewers.
Angelica Bengtsson:
Remember, the most important thing is that you are happy. But don’t forget to let others making you happy too. Take care of your loved ones.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness