– I am in good shape. My goal was to be top five or top three. This is the first time I represent Norway. I am extremely happy, says the silver winner to news. – I was in good shape. My goal was to be top three, maybe top five. – I can’t describe it. I have no words to explain it, says the silver winner. The EC silver is incredible in many ways. Mezngi, who comes from Eritrea, fled a military camp after seven years. He has now represented Norway since 2020. But in 2019 he wanted to quit. As he was not a Norwegian citizen, he could not participate in the European Championship. But Mezngi was helped by local forces, who set up a training plan and started the process of getting him citizenship. He has kept his commitment to athletics going for nine years. So on Sunday, he got a full refund. – The Norwegian system welcomed me with open arms. I have a talent, and I have to use it to give something back, said Mezngi in an interview with news a few years ago. France’s Yann Schrub celebrates third place and bronze together with Mezngi. Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP Came as a surprise In the last laps he shocked when he led the field. He had a gap to his competitors right into the race, and for a moment it looked like it could be European Championship gold. However, he was overtaken by Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa. France’s Yann Schrub took the bronze. It didn’t affect the joy of the silver. – It has been a long way for you to get here. From Eritrea as a soldier and to Norway as a refugee. How difficult has it been for you? – It was the best thing that could happen to come to Norway, he says. – I am extremely happy in Norway. I’m actually wondering if I’ll sleep with the flag tonight, he grins. Crippa’s winning time was 27.46.13. Mezngi was clocked in at 27.46.94. It was a personal record. – You world for a race. What a huge breakthrough for Zerei Kbrom Mezngi, exclaimed news commentator Jann Post as Mezngi ran into the silver medal. Sunday’s silver came as a complete surprise to most who followed the race, including news’s expert Vebjørn Rodal. – It was fun and surprising. I talked down Zerei. I was talking about a fifth or sixth place. Then we end up with a silver medal. This is poor analysis by the expert, says news’s expert Rodal, who had no faith in Norwegian medals before the competition. Taking the flag Erlend Slotvik, head of sport in the Norwegian Athletics Federation, was a little more optimistic than Rodal. – We had barely talked about the possibility of a third place. I had a little hope, so brought a flag. But what he did was completely rude. For a while I actually thought he was going to win and. It looked crazy, he says. MEDAL TRIO: Yemaneberhan Crippa from Italy took the gold ahead of Mezngi. France’s Yann Schrub took the bronze. Photo: WOLFGANG RATTAY / Reuters
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Sensational Norwegian medal in the 10,000 meters – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
