At Sätrahallen in Stockholm, 19-year-old Ayla Hallberg Hossain pulled off an upset in long jump by winning the gala despite having the worst personal record at the start. She set a new personal best of 6.56 meters and defeated more experienced competitors. Commentator Niklas Nord exclaimed in surprise: 'Oh, is that approved?'
Ayla Hallberg Hossain, a 19-year-old jumper from Tureberg, arrived at the athletics gala in Sätrahallen with the worst personal record among the participants. Despite this, she delivered an impressive performance and won the competition with a new indoor personal best of 6.56 meters. Previously, she had jumped 6.40 meters indoors and 6.57 meters outdoors.
Hallberg Hossain recorded three jumps over 6.50 meters, which was enough to beat competitors who had previously jumped up to half a meter farther. A quirky detail was that an official crossed the track during her run-up for the decisive 6.56 jump. 'I am very pleased and wanted to beat my PB this indoor season, and it was about time,' she tells SVT Sport.
She arrived without high expectations: 'I really had no expectations, just came in and saw what would happen. Someone had jumped 6.90.' Despite the victory, she is not Sweden's best this year; Khaddi Sagnia jumped 6.58 meters two days earlier in Århus, Denmark. Other Swedish results include Tilde Johansson at 6.29 meters and Emilia Sjöstrand at 6.08 meters.
SVT expert Alhaji Jeng praises her stability: 'Her stability means a lot more could come this indoor season.' Hallberg Hossain is already looking ahead to the outdoor EM in Birmingham in August, despite not feeling at her best: 'I didn't have the best feeling but was stable and know it works.'
The event took place on January 22, 2026, in Stockholm.
