Ludmila Engquist suffered a blood clot in the brain – now the heart must be stopped and started – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

– I’m lonely and I don’t feel well. I am depressed. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time and I think it’s time to tell my story. Ludmila Engquist sits in the middle of the tartan deck at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium. In a frank interview with SVT, the former Swedish athletics star opens up. – I do not want to speculate right now on how long I will live, time will tell. I have other problems that are more difficult, says Engquist. The life of the former Swedish-Russian athletics star has in many ways always contained great contrasts. She won her first WC medal already in 1991 for the then Soviet Union. Through athletics she met her former husband Johan Engquist. When they married in 1995, she also became a Swedish citizen. One year after she became a Swedish citizen, she became a public figure in Sweden – she won Olympic gold in the 100 meter hurdles in Atlanta in 1996. Lennart Månsson/Bjørn Tilly/Bildbyårn The same year was she also awarded the prestigious Jerring prize. Then came the year 1999, which contained both great ups, but perhaps even greater downs. Because after she ran to bronze during the WC in Seville in 1999, the news came that the athletics star had been affected by breast cancer. WC HERO: Ludmila Engquist sprints to the WC gold in the 100 meter hurdles during the WC in Seville in 1999. Photo: BJÖRN LINDGREN / Bildbyrån SOVEREN: Ludmila Engquist quickly gained hero status in Sweden after the WC gold. Photo: BJÖRN LINDGREN / Bildbyrån WANTED: She was among the most sought after athletes by the Swedish press. Here after the WC gold in 1999. Photo: BJÖRN LINDGREN / Bildbyrån Engquist quickly fought back and surprised everyone when she made the following choice: She wanted to be the first to win Olympic gold in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. Then the choice fell on driving two bobsleds. But in 2001 came the news that turned star life upside down. She was tested for doping during a bobsled training camp in Lillehammer and admitted to doping. The Swedes were not merciful after the former Swedish track and field sensation Ludmila Engquist admitted to doping. This was the second time in her career that she had received a positive doping test. In 1993, she was first sentenced to a four-year ban for violating the doping regulations, but the sentence was later overturned in 1995 when it emerged that her ex-husband had mixed steroids in her vitamin pills. – Have to stop and start the heart After the turbulent days and months in 2001, she chose to move to Spain. Since then, she has lived 25 years with breast cancer. In an SVT documentary, she previously said that the cancer had eaten half of her spine. In 2008, she really thought that the cancer diagnosis was a closed chapter, but then the news came that the cancer had spread to the lungs. She was also told that she had three years left to live. Now, 16 years later, she tells of further health problems. – In three weeks I will have a heart operation. They have to stop and start the heart again, says Engquist to the Swedish broadcaster. BACK: 25 years after Ludmila Engquist stormed to Diamond League victory at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium while being treated for cancer, she is back. Photo: Maximillian Lynton / SVT Refused to follow the doctors’ travel advice Only two weeks before the interview with SVT, life could have looked very different for the 60-year-old. – Just two weeks ago I had small blood clots in my brain just before leaving here, so I’m not really allowed to travel. I flew here anyway, says Engquist. After she became acutely ill, she was rushed to the hospital in Spain by her son. The quick reaction meant that she did not have any permanent injuries after the blood clot. – Right now I don’t want to speculate on how long I will live, time will tell, she says. Published 02.10.2024, at 10.25



ttn-69