MUNICH (VG) Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (32) led for a long time, but had to give up halfway in the 5,000 meters at the European Athletics Championships due to a back problem.

Aftenposten collaborates with VG-sporten. Therefore, as a reader of Aftenposten, you also get articles and services created by VG.

– I’m kind of empty. “I knew that there was a very high chance that this would happen, but I tried,” Grøvdal told NRK.

Grøvdal led the field with 22 women from 700 to 2400 meters. But after 3,000 meters he dropped to number 17, and soon Grøvdal stumbled off the track.

Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen took the gold with 14:50.47 ahead of Turkey’s Yasemin Can and England’s Eilish McColgan.

– Speed ​​is a problem with the rear. It’s like running with a knife in your back. When the others pick up speed, I can’t. “It was a medal or nothing today, so I thought it was good to give up before it got too bad,” said Grøvdal.

Earlier this summer, Grøvdal was touted as the clear medal candidate for EC training, but refilling the 32-year-old from Romsdal has been difficult.

For a long time, he had struggled with his back. He first opted to sit out of the Diamond League event in Monaco, before dropping 1,500 and 10,000 yards in the EC.

– It’s been a terrible two weeks. It was the worst time. “It’s difficult, at least with injuries that are pure bad luck,” said Grøvdal.

The pain has prevented Grøvdal from running in recent weeks. However, on Wednesday, he finished the running session.

– His back isn’t good enough yet, but there’s improvement so he wants to give it a try, says Athletic Federation doctor Ove Talsnes.

Earlier this year, Grøvdal showed good results. By June at the latest, he set a new Norwegian record for 5,000 meters. During the Bislett Games she ran at 14.31.07, which is more than six seconds faster than Ingrid Kristiansen’s best record (14.37.33) from 1986.

At the WC in Eugene this summer, he followed with sixth place in the 5,000 meters final. There she became the second best European player, only beaten by Olympic winner Sifan Hassan (29). The Dutch coach did not participate in the EC.

From before, Grøvdal has European Championship bronzes in the 10,000m and 3,000m hurdles.

PS! It was a better night for two other Norwegians in Munich on Thursday night. Jakob Ingebrigtsen won 1500 meterswhile Eivind Henriksen took bronze in hammer throwing.