Runner nearly loses medal after completing Swedish half-marathon with phone in hand

Sofie Nelson Rask finished third in the Swedish half-marathon championships, but her bronze medal nearly turned bitter after she ran with a phone in her hand.

The 36-year-old runner said the phone remained in her hand by accident. Officials warned her during the race that carrying it was not allowed.

“I thought, oh my God, should I stop and withdraw? Should I throw the phone into a bush and try to find it later? I became really sad,” Nelson Rask said.

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I thought, oh my God, should I stop and withdraw? Should I throw the phone into a bush and try to find it later? I became really sad.

Johanna Bäcklund, who finished fourth, filed a protest. The competition jury examined the matter but rejected the protest.

“My feelings were mixed. I almost did not want the bronze medal. I was sad because I had done something wrong and felt really guilty. Filing the protest was completely understandable. But at the same time, the phone gave me no advantage,” Nelson Rask said.

Nelson Rask completed the race in a personal-best time of 1:15:57. Her personal best for the full marathon is 2:47:38.

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My feelings were mixed. I almost did not want the bronze medal. I was sad because I had done something wrong and felt really guilty. Filing the protest was completely understandable. But at the same time, the phone gave me no advantage.