“Incredible that I survived”
Athlete speaks for the first time about tragic accident
13.05.2025 – 9:16 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
A training accident in the United States changed Joel Bengtsson’s life. The Swedish hurdle runner has been struggling with pain since then – and for his sporting future.
In the summer of 2023, Joel Bengtsson was considered one of the most hopeful talents of Swedish athletics. With a silver medal at the national championships, the 110-meter hurdle runner not only secured a podium, but also participating in the World Championships in Budapest. Shortly afterwards Bengtsson became Swedish relay champion in two disciplines.
He moved from Texas to California for his studies within the United States and wanted to develop on the UCLA (University of Los Angeles). The Olympic Games in Paris remained his declared goal. But in November 2023 there was a serious accident.
“During a training session, I was hit by a litter hammer on the head,” said Bengtsson of the Swedish newspaper “Expressen” for the first time, which is why he disappeared from the scene in 2023. On the training area he was hit by the throwing device of a hammer thrower, a litter ball attached to a steel wire. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a coincidence that only occurs once in a million,” said Bengtsson.
He came to a hospital where doctors found serious injuries: the frontal leg was broken, parts of the skull in the region of the sinuses were smashed. “It is unbelievable that I survived. The doctors told me that I had been dead if the hunt had only hit a few millimeters lower,” said Bengtsson.
A comprehensive operation followed. The surgeons reconstructed the smashed bone tissue, visible scars only remained on the face in the form of a four centimeter long cut. “The plastic surgeon has done incredible work, otherwise I would have a big hole in my head.”
A few months after the procedure, Bengtsson resumed training, but it was out of the question. At the beginning of 2024 the state of health seemed to be stabilized before another setback followed. “I woke up one morning and my head was extremely swollen and I had severe pain,” he recalled.
Although he went into medical treatment, the condition did not improve. At the beginning of 2025 he underwent another operation. But: “I still have problems with swelling and severe pain every day. I was probably already around ten doctors – but nobody knows what I’m missing.”
Bengtsson’s case remained publicly unnoticed – for a good reason: “I didn’t want to talk about it, I just wanted to concentrate on getting back.” Despite the stressful situation, Bengtsson continued his studies at the UCLA. In the coming summer he wants to graduate and then return to his home in Sweden.
How it goes on sporty is uncertain. “I can’t even do simple rehab exercises because of the pain,” said Bengtsson. He misses athletics and training. “But above all, I would like to be able to live a normal life without pain and headache every day.”