Banská Bystrica, Slovakia – Louise Ekman, representing Gefle IF, delivered a stunning performance at the Tipos Banskobystrická latka high jump gala on , shattering her personal best and solidifying her position as a contender for the upcoming World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland.
The 28-year-old cleared 1.96 meters, a remarkable improvement of nine centimeters over her previous best, and a height not reached by a Swedish woman indoors in twelve years. Ekman’s progression has been rapid, having cleared 1.91 meters in Lyon on , a personal best at the time, and consistently approaching 1.90 meters in subsequent competitions.
Ekman navigated the earlier heights – 1.75m, 1.80m, 1.85m, and 1.90m – flawlessly. At 1.92m, she required all three attempts, clearing the bar on her final jump. She then successfully cleared 1.94m on her second attempt, visibly emotional after the successful jump. Undeterred, she continued to push her limits, clearing 1.96m on her second attempt, prompting a jubilant reaction from the crowd.
“Personal record here tonight by five centimeters… I didn’t think that was possible at all,” Ekman said, still processing the achievement. “I was aiming for 1.92, but 1.96 is much better, so I’m very happy and actually completely shocked.” She added, “I still don’t really understand what happened. It feels strange, but I hope it sinks in tonight. I was shocked already at 1.94, and 1.96 was just incredible.”
The jump elevates Ekman to a tie for third place on the all-time Swedish indoor high jump list, surpassed only by Kajsa Bergqvist (2.08m) and Emma Green (1.98m). This performance all but guarantees her participation in the World Indoor Championships.
Ekman attributes her recent success to a focused training regimen with coach Bengt Jönsson over the past three years, coupled with a supportive personal life. “I and Bengt have gradually increased the amount of training since we started working together three years ago,” she explained. “I also have a kind partner who offered me a job at his company. So now I can arrange my days as I want, and that has given a completely different opportunity for recovery. Everything just works incredibly well – training, recovery… I feel very good, everything in life is falling into place.”
The prospect of competing in her first senior championship is exciting for Ekman. “It would be fantastic. And to start with a World Championship, that’s a pretty good setting to debut in, if I do,” she said with a laugh.
National team captain Kajsa Bergqvist, herself coached by Bengt Jönsson for ten years, expressed her delight at Ekman’s breakthrough. “From the Swedish elite to the world elite in two months. I am so incredibly happy for Louise. She is a clear choice for the World Indoor Championships, this will be enough,” Bergqvist stated. “She has had the capacity for a long time, and for several years you have felt that ‘now it will happen’, but it hasn’t quite happened. It’s so incredibly fun when someone who is fighting and struggling finally gets a return, gets that lift and goes from one level to another. Under safe leadership from Bengt Jönsson.”
Ekman finished third in the competition, which was won by Serbia’s Angelina Topic, a World Championship bronze medalist, who cleared 2.00 meters. The competition provided a valuable gauge of Ekman’s current form against international competition.
This performance marks a significant turning point in Ekman’s career, transforming her from a promising domestic athlete into a legitimate contender on the world stage. Her rapid improvement and newfound confidence suggest she is poised for continued success as she prepares for the World Indoor Championships, and beyond.
