Dissolved in Tears After Brutal Fall: 'Don't Know What to Say'

Disappointment struck Norwegian hurdler Lovise Skarbøvik Andresen during the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham when she crashed into the final hurdle, falling just before the finish line. The 22-year-old was on track for a strong performance in the 100m hurdles heats, aiming to recapture the form that led to her personal best of 12.89 seconds at the 2024 European Championships in Rome.

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I don't know what to say. I have worked to get back to where I was in Rome. I felt I was there today, but no... It was a belly flop, to put it mildly. I am covered in scrapes.

"I don't know what to say. I have worked to get back to where I was in Rome. I felt I was there today, but no... It was a belly flop, to put it mildly. I am covered in scrapes," Andresen told NRK, visibly upset. She lamented being so close to the finish, believing she would have qualified for the semifinals had she completed the race.

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I was so close to the finish too, had I reached the finish I would probably have advanced, so it's even more frustrating.

In contrast to Andresen's misfortune, her training partners achieved significant success. Martine Kolbeinshavn Hjørnevik, 25, secured a spot in the semifinals with a winning time of 12.82 seconds in her heat, her third-best career performance. "It was incredibly nice. Incredibly fun," Hjørnevik said, expressing relief after overcoming pre-race nerves.

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It was incredibly nice. Incredibly fun.

Elea Jørstad Bock, 23, also advanced to the semifinals, clocking 12.98 seconds in challenging headwinds. Her time secured her the tenth-fastest spot among the qualifiers. This marks a historic moment for Norwegian athletics, as it is the first time three Norwegian women have competed in the 100m hurdles at the European Championships, and the first time two will advance to the semifinals in this event.

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I have been a bit nervous before the heat, because I really want to advance to the semifinals. I feel that is the most important thing. It's so nice to see that it went completely fine.