Christian Olsson (born 25 January 1980) is a former Swedish athlete competing in high jump and triple jump. He won an Olympic gold medal, one gold and one silver medal in the World Championships and two gold medals in the European Championships as well as a further two golds in the World Indoor championships. He also won the overall IAAF Golden League jackpot in 2004 where he cashed in 500,000 US dollars (after splitting the million dollar pot with Tonique Williams-Darling).
From 2007 to his retirement in 2012, he was beset by injuries which left him largely on the sidelines and unable to compete at top level competitions.Turner, Chris (16 January 2010). Robles vs Oliver; Olsson returns after three years to Stockholm. IAAF. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
Biography Olsson was born in Gothenburg, and made his international breakthrough in 2001 when he won silver at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. He has the Swedish national record outdoors, 17.79 m (2004 Summer Olympics), and the Swedish national record indoors, 17.83 m (2004). Olsson has won the Swedish Championships seven times, and has also competed successfully on national level in high jumping.
On 7 March 2004, at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in Athletics, he jumped 17.83 m and matched the World Record. On 23 August 2004, at the 2004 Summer Olympics, he jumped 17.79 m, broke the national record and won the gold medal as the first Swede since Gustaf Lindblom in 1912, 92 years earlier. Four of his six jumps were longer than the silver medalist's best jump.
With the Olympic Gold he completed an international sweep, having the Olympic, World Indoor, Outdoor, Regional (European) Indoor and Outdoor titles.
Olsson first became interested in triple jump after watching Jonathan Edwards set the world record at the World Championships in his hometown Gothenburg. Since 1999, Olsson has been trained by Yannick Tregaro. Before that, Olsson was trained by Viljo Nousiainen.
During the autumn and winter 2004/2005 he injured his foot (an injury originating from the 2004 Olympic Final), preventing him from being able to do triple-jumping at full speed. Unfortunately the injury healed very slowly, and it was still in January 2006 hampering him. In his first competition after the injury, in June 2006, he jumped 17.09 and seem to be back into shape.Christian Olsson is back! IAAF, 13 June 2006. Retrieved 9 October 2019. A month later he won the gold medal at European Championships in his hometown Gothenburg, with a jump of 17.67 m.
At the beginning of the 2007 indoor season, Olsson was injured yet again, and was unable to compete at the European indoor championships.Knee injury in training causes Olsson’s withdrawal IAAF. 1 February 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2019.Holm takes Swedish title, as two clear 2.38m on first attempts, and then try 2.40m! IAAF. 25 February 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
Olsson returned to competition in June at the IAAF Golden League event in Oslo, jumping 17.33 m. In July, he won Golden League event in Paris with 17.56 m.Four continue to reign in Paris - IAAF Golden League IAAF. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2019. At the Golden League event in Rome, he retired after the second round due to a cramp.Perry and Powell pre-eminent in Rome – IAAF Golden League IAAF. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
Olsson went to the 2007 World Championships in Athletics but had to pull out before the competition due to an injury during training.Christian Olsson injured – No World Championships IAAF, 21 August 2007
After almost one year of rehabilitation, he returned to competition in July 2008 at the annual event in Stockholm, "DN Galan", but had to pull out due to injury. Afterwards, he announced that he would not compete anymore during the 2008 season; hence he would not participate in the Beijing Olympics. He also suggested that he might retire from the sport.Powell dips to beat Bolt; Defar just short of 5000m World record - IAAF World Athletics Tour, Stockholm IAAF. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2019."The Olympics are gone, the whole season is gone" European Athletics, 23 July 2008. Upon a request from the Swedish Olympic team, Olsson agreed to carry the Swedish flag during the opening ceremony.
In July 2009, Olsson made a comeback in a minor event arranged by Örgryte IS in Gothenburg. He then jumped 17.24 m.
On 3 August 2009 Olsson competed in Swedish Championships in Malmö. He won the competition with a jump at 16.72 m. This was the first competition Olsson failed to reach 17 m or more since he jumped in a competition in Birmingham in 2003.Svenska Dagbladet paper issue 4 August 2009.
On 14 May 2012, Olsson ultimately declared his intentions to retire from professional triple jump competitions.
Christian Olsson lives with his family in Lindome, south of Gothenburg.
Competition record Representing 1999European Junior ChampionshipsRiga, Latvia1stHigh jump2.21 m2ndTriple jump16.18 m2000European Indoor ChampionshipsGhent, Belgium22nd (q)Triple jump15.95 mOlympic GamesSydney, Australia17th (q)Triple jump16.64 m2001European U23 ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands1stTriple jump17.24 m (wind: -0.8 m/s)World ChampionshipsEdmonton, Canada2ndTriple jump17.47 mGoodwill GamesBrisbane, Australia2ndTriple jump16.85 m2002European Indoor ChampionshipsVienna, Austria1stTriple jump17.54 mEuropean ChampionshipsMunich, Germany1stTriple jump17.53 m2003World Indoor ChampionshipsBirmingham, United Kingdom1stTriple jump17.70 mWorld ChampionshipsParis, France1stTriple jump17.72 m2004World Indoor ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary1stTriple jump17.83 mOlympic GamesAthens, Greece1stTriple jump17.79 m2006European ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden1stTriple jump17.67 m2010World Indoor ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar4thTriple jump17.23 m2011European Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France5thTriple jump17.20 mWorld ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea6thTriple jump17.23 m
Other victories
Triple jump 2001: Helsinki (Grand Prix) - 17.08 m; Vaasa (European Cup first league) - 17.00 m; Rethymno (athletics meet) - 17.49 m 2002: Athens (Grand Prix) - 17.40 m; Seville (European Cup first league) - 17.63 m; Monaco (IAAF Golden League) - 17.63 m; Berlin (Golden League) - 17.40 m; Paris (Grand Prix Final) - 17.48 m 2003: Lappeenranta (European Cup first league) - 17.38 m; Rethymno (athletics meet) - 17.55 m; Gateshead (Grand Prix) - 17.92(w) m; Stockholm (Grand Prix) - 17.36 m; Monaco (World Athletics Final) - 17.55 m 2004: Turin (Grand Prix) - 17.61 m; Bergen (Golden League) - 17.58 m; Bydgoszcz (European Cup super league) - 17.30 m; Gateshead (Grand Prix) - 17.43 m; Rome (Golden League) - 17.50 m; Paris Saint-Denis (Golden League) - 17.41 m; Zürich (Golden League) - 17.46 m; Brussels (Golden League) - 17.44 m; Berlin (Golden League) - 17.45 m; Monaco (World Athletics Final) - 17.66 m 2006: Prague (European Cup super league) - 17.40 m; Lausanne (Grand Prix) - 17.62 m; London (Grand Prix) - 17.42 m; Zürich (Golden League-meet) - 17.39 m 2007: Vaasa (European Cup first league) - 17.33 m; Paris Saint-Denis (Golden League) - 17.56 m; Rome (Golden League) - 17.19 m
International awards Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2004 Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2003
Personal bests Triple jump Indoor - 17.83 metres Outdoor - 17.79 metres High jump - 2.28 metres Long jump - 7.71 metres
References
External links
BBC Sports Article - (2004 Summer Olympics) BBC Sports Article - (2003 World Championships in Athletics)