Emma Green at the pre-meet press conference in Stockholm (© Bob Ramsak)
Newly crowned European High Jump silver medallist Emma Green has been a fixture on the world's athletic circuit for many years albeit virtually unnoticed until her brilliant showing in Barcelona last week.
Green can expect a hero's welcome at the DN Galan Samsung Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Friday after winning Sweden's sole medal at the Championships where once and not so long ago, for such a small country they were amongst the biggest players.
Stefan Holm, Christian Olsson, Carolina Kluft, the Kallur twins and of course Kajsa Bergqvist are the some of the legendary names that roll off the tongue when recalling the golden days of these Scandinavian show stoppers.
While these trojans thrilled crowds worldwide at global level with their uninhibited performances, Green wasn't doing too badly herself. Indeed in 2005 finished third at the World Championships in Helsinki.
That was the greatest year of what was hopefully going to be a medal winning career when she improved seven centimetres from her previous best of 1.90m and finishing third behind Bergqvist and Chaunte Lowe in the historic Finnish Olympic stadium.
Quite naturally returning home, hero-grammes were heaped upon the winner although Green, after her fantastic display and still only 22, was largely ignored, not surprisingly given the high profile of her fellow teammate.
But the former European Youth champion, although adamant she has always been her own woman, reckons that was no bad thing.
"I think it felt pretty good to not be in the centre of everything and to be able to do my thing," said Green, surrounded by a mass of the Swedish and international media during a packed press appearance at the Nordic Light Hotel.
"It was easier I think when all the others were around but now I have a chance to getting used to everything," she added, as the television cameras whirled and photographers clicked away at a woman with a delightful smile on her face.
But since her medal winning exploit in Helsinki it hasn't been an easy passage of time for Green, coached by Yannick Tregaro, who nursed her through a career which appeared to be going stale.
Green after a lack of success, revealed: "I've been injured and had some mental problems with everything and in a way I felt a lot of pressure for myself from everybody around me, and so it's been a process to be able to jump the way I do now.
"It's really lovely," she added, well aware of the reception which awaits her when challenging the World's top two high jumpers Blanca Vlasic and Lowe in what will be a night of great celebration.
The Croatian and American currently stand head-and-shoulders over Green but she insists finally clearing 2.01m, her best height since 2005, has already put extra fire in her belly for the future.
"I think I can jump higher and that's my goal and now we'll see how it works," added Green. "I think I've done pretty good - my 2.01m wasn't perfect. Now I must keep my technique and physical shape."
Lowe who this year has improved from a four-year-old PB of 2.01m to a US record height of 2.05m certainly believes Green can also make rapid progress now clear of the 2 metres barrier.
"It's definitely possible," said Lowe. "Her personal best was 1.98 this year and she's already at 2.01. She's getting there so I think it's possible.
"She's dangerous," added Lowe who watched the European Championships via the internet and obviously concentrated on the final day when the High Jump was won by Vlasic ahead of Green with Germany's potent Ariane Friedrich third.
"I was watching jump by jump on the internet and I was very impressed. I was very happy for her (Green) because she's a great girl. She's really nice and we like to see nice people to do well. Actually we shared the podium together in 2005.
"Anybody that's watched her jump recently will have seen the focus in her eyes which you have not seen in a while," and admitting she is hoping there is no backlash on Friday night.
Lowe for the first time on the circuit not accompanied by three-year-old daughter Jasmine, added: "It's great for the meet that the home town really has a great shot at taking this thing."
The USA champion also taking part in the Long Jump is herself determined to draw some blood from Vlasic who has dominated their previous clashes at Samsung Diamond League level.
"I think that now I'm able to relax a little bit more because I don't feel so much pressure," she insisted. "The pressure's not really on my back, it's definitely on Blanca's back.
"Maybe being a little relaxed will help me a little bit more." adding with her daughter an absentee," My arms feel empty, I feel like a 30 pound weight is missing."
David Martin for the Samsung Diamond League
