26-year-old Mia Blichfeldt has been selected for the Olympics for the second time in her career.
Although the Danish women’s singles Mia Blichfeldt is currently rehabilitating after a serious injury, there is no mistaking the smile.
On Wednesday afternoon, Blichfeldt received the message that she has been selected for the Olympics in Paris, where she will participate in the Olympic Games for the second time in her career.
– I’m really, really happy, and I’m super relieved. It’s a huge release, and I’m having a really hard time putting it into words right now. I’m also a bit in shock.
– I think that I had gone and prepared myself for the worst, so when I was told that it was me who was going to join, I was simply so happy, says Mia Blichfeldt to TV 2 Sport.
A tough period
Especially in women’s singles, there has been great doubt as to who Badminton Denmark’s sporting management would nominate for an Olympic selection at the Danish Sports Confederation.
30-year-old Line Kjærsfeldt actually finished as number 21 on the official Olympic qualification ranking list – one place ahead of Mia Blichfeldt. 24-year-old Line Christophersen has also been considered.
The three women’s singles, Line Christophersen, Mia Blichfeldt and Line Kjærsfeldt, have fought for one place. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix
Nevertheless, it was Mia Blichfeldt who was able to leave Wednesday’s national team training in Brøndby with a huge smile, while two colleagues went home extremely disappointed.
– It has really been a hard period. I also think that Line and Line have done very well. We have fought all year, and it has been difficult and tough, so no, I have not thought that I have been safe in this at all, says Mia Blichfeldt and elaborates:
– There has been pressure on. I feel mentally and psychologically that it has been in the back of my mind the whole time, so it will also be nice now, when I have to play my next tournament, that I can actually just go on the court and play without this pressure.
You just got the message today, but have ambitions and goals already been discussed?
– No, not immediately. Of course, I have not just been selected for the Olympics because I have to go down and take part. I want to go down and do well and play for the nice medals, but right now it’s one step at a time, says the Dane.
The big smile could not be removed from Blichfeldt’s lips, although she acknowledged that the recent period has been difficult. Photo: Henrik Berring / TV 2 Sport
Blichfeldt hit by injury
The entire period leading up to the Olympic selection was not easier for Mia Blichfeldt, as she had to cancel the WC for teams (Uber Cup, ed.) with a cartilage injury in one of her knees.
The Danish women’s singles was aware that Badminton Denmark would not select a player who is injured. Therefore, it also meant a lot that Team Denmark’s physiotherapists and doctors could give the green light before the selection.
– The last few weeks have gone really, really well, and I’m almost fully back on the field, and there’s the green light from the physiotherapist and the doctor, so it’s great, and it’s great that I can just train again.
Mia Blichfeldt left the EC early. Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix
– It also meant a lot to me that this knee injury came at a really bad time, and I was really sad about the result I delivered at the EC and that the injury meant that I didn’t come to the Uber Cup. It has really been a tough few weeks. Phew, my brain has been racing, says Mia Blichfeldt.
Why Blichfeldt?
At Badminton Denmark’s sports management, too, the brains and thoughts have been running at high pressure.
Sports director Jens Meibom explains this to TV 2 Sport.
– The process has not been so straightforward. The other categories have given themselves, we must be honest. So we have spent a great deal of energy and time on women’s singles, because it has not been an obvious and unequivocal choice, as it has been in the other categories, says Meibom and states:
Head of sport in Badminton Denmark, Jens Meibom. Photo: Henrik Berring / TV 2 Sport
– We assess that Mia is the one who to the highest degree fulfills the two selection criteria we have in relation to selection for the Olympics in 2024. One is about performance and level in relation to 2024, and then there is a criterion in relation to potential at the Olympics in 2028. And there is the overall assessment that Mia meets those criteria to the highest degree.
Mia Blichfeldt’s Olympic selection is actually historic, which you can read more about here. In addition to Blichfeldt, the following Danes are selected in the other categories:
- Men’s Singles: Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen
- Men’s Doubles: Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup
- Women’s Doubles: Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen
- Mixed doubles: Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje
The badminton tournament at the Paris Olympics takes place from July 27 to August 5 in the Porte de la Chapelle Arena, and you can follow the entire tournament on TV 2’s platforms.
2024-05-15 15:49:28
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