A Swedish discus thrower filed a criminal report for the events of the Finland match.
– I’m glad I reported a crime, a Swedish discus thrower Vanessa Kamga says.
Kamga was subjected to a racist attack in the Finland-Sweden national match in the summer of 2019.
The discus thrower encouraged his teammates at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium as a man in his 50s and 60s drew close to him. Eventually, the man came right in front of Kamga to shout, “Nausea! You are not Swedish, you are not Swedish! ”
The situation was so threatening that Kamga left the scene. He filed a criminal complaint.
To this day, the athlete has not heard how police acted after the crime was reported.
– I haven’t been in contact with the police. So I don’t know if the police found the man. I hope that through my actions I encouraged other people who experienced racism to dare to say, Kamga says now.
Puck throwing is a multi-talent Vanessa Kamga’s main sport. Pasi Liesimaa
Kamga is not alone with her experience. He was involved with the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation last year In SVT’s documentarywhere several national team athletes talk about the prejudices and racism they face.
Racism is not limited to sports fields.
– I dare say that racism is experienced by all people in the Nordic countries who have a “different” skin color. You have to dare to talk about it. I hope that only those who experience racism will not raise this issue. Even those who have not experienced it must dare to open their mouths.
Kamga stresses that every citizen should start eradicating racism.
– Schools and workplaces should talk about what racism looks like. How it affects people, or how to act if you see racism.
– It is not just on the shoulders of those who experience racism. Everyone must dare to answer these questions and intervene.
Four species
Vanessa Kamga competed in puck throwing at the 2019 World Championships. Pasi Liesimaa
Kamga threw at the Espoo GP on Wednesday. The result was 54.84.
Salla Sipponen won the race with a score of 59.43.
In the summer of 2020, the record for the Swedish thrower’s outdoor tracks was 60.01. He is still pleased with Wednesday’s performance.
– The competition was really good. The weather was great. As a discus thrower, though, I wish there had been more wind. The wind was not against, but came from the side. It didn’t help throw the puck.
Kamga is a real multi-talent. Growing up near Gävle, the athlete played basketball from the age of 6 to 16.
Until last season, the variety book included a puck, a spear, a hammer and a ball.
Starting this summer, Kamga will focus on the ball and puck. In shot put, the record was thrown last summer at 15.39.
– I have improved a lot in the ball, but the puck is my main sport. I want to get to the European Championships and the finals.
The Munich European Championship limit in discus throw is 60.50.