Swedish long jumper may miss final after late medical care for injury

Long jumper Ayla Hallberg Hossain has secured a spot in the European Championship final, but her participation is uncertain due to an injury sustained during qualifying. The 19-year-old expressed significant frustration over the delayed medical response following her injury.

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I don't think it will be possible, unfortunately. It doesn't feel worth it if I can't compete at my highest level.

Hossain felt a twinge in her thigh during her final qualifying jump, which secured her place in the final. She noted that while medical teams respond quickly to serious injuries, the delay in her case was still problematic, especially given the importance of prompt treatment for potential muscle tears. "It's very frustrating," she stated, adding that the medical personnel who eventually arrived lacked the proper equipment.

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Very frustrating – and when medical personnel finally arrived, they didn't have the right equipment. It took a while before one received help.

Fellow Swedish athlete Maja Åskag echoed Hossain's concerns, calling the medical team's response "under all criticism." Åskag highlighted that such issues should not occur at a European Championship and urged organizers to improve response times for the benefit of the athletes. Hossain acknowledged that she might have been better off skipping her final jump, prioritizing her health over the immediate satisfaction of reaching the final.

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It is under all criticism. One doesn't understand how difficult it can be. We are at a European Championship, after all. Injuries will happen.

Despite the mixed emotions of qualifying for the final while facing potential withdrawal, Hossain stated she would make the smartest decision based on her body's condition. Another Swedish competitor, Tilde Johansson, did not advance to the final.

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There should be people who act much faster. It's very sad for the athletes, and one hopes they take the criticism to heart.