Back from Porto: Interview with Sara Karlsson
21 Sep 2012 at 19:58 | Published by: Hans | Views: 14141 | News search
Sara takes a brief look at the scoreboard at the start of the final round (Photo by Hans Bergström 2012)
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Interview with Sara Karlsson (SK), Sweden and Olofströms BGK
This interview was done the 21th of September 2012. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).
HB: First of all a big congratulation to your amazing successes during the August Championships. First team silver and bronze in YWC in Bad Munder and then gold medal in strokeplay in Porto. How does this feel in retro perspective back in normal life again?
SK: Thank you very much! It’s a great feeling still and I can still think of these moments with a big smile on my face.
HB: Can you tell us about who is Sara Karlsson?
SK: She's a girl in the age of 19 and has played minigolf for nine years. She graduated from high school this year and when she doesn't play minigolf she likes to hang out with friends and family, to party and go to the gym.
HB: Let’s start with YWC in Bad Munder and your medals there. Can you tell us with your own words what happened?
SK: What happened on the last day in the stroke play final was that I tried to ignore my placement individually and just focused on playing as well as possible. I made a 19 on the eternite but after that lap I didn’t look at the scoreboard at all. Instead I focused on the last felt lap. I started quite well and thanks to my team mate Lina whom I played with I managed to just focus on my own game. I never had quite control over the girls behind me and their scores.
With just 3 lanes to go I understood that this was a really good lap I made. I started to notice how the crowd was following me and got quite nervous. But strangely I play often my best when I am nervous and I finished 2-1-1 and got the final score 23. Once I was finished I could check what my results meant in placements. I was very happy about my Bronze!
HB: After that you were leaving almost directly for Porto. Wasn’t it though being away from home so long?
SK: Yes, I was only at home for one day so it was though being away from my family and friends for so long. But I also think it’s great fun being on the road in my own small bubble :)
HB: In Porto you and the Swedish ladies team started well on first day and you were in the lead after day 1. Day 2 was not so good and you fell back to fourth place and missed medal. Tell us about the feelings in the team after that?
SK: We were a bit disappointed that we missed medal but on the same time we was quite happy with our scores since they were in line with our practice results on the beton and actually quite much better on the eternit.
HB: Tell us about the Friday when you took the stroke play gold. You started well in the morning. When did you start thinking of medals?
SK: After the first double round when I made 19-24 I noticed that I was on top. So already before the last two laps I got really nervous again.
HB: The last lanes of the last lap on beton became a thriller with 4 player’s involved (You, Bianca, Anne and Natasja). It was both good shot and simple mistakes from both yourselves and Bianca. Tell us how it felt these last and dramatic lanes?
SK: I have never been so nervous in my entire life. My arms and legs where shook just of the thought that maybe I will win it all. I had a great support from the crowd that helped me be positive but after lane 16 I had to take a toilet break and that helped me calm myself down. When I am back on the course I knew that I needed to ace both lane 17 and 18 to win. When I then ace lane 17 I get extremely nervous again and that’s why I concentrate for so long on lane 18. My only thought standing there was “If I ace I will win”.
HB: And then you were fourth in the match play. Was it hard to refocus after the gold or are you happy with the fourth place?
SK: Yes it was a real challenge to re-focus. It felt almost like coming to an unknown course again. I had very little expectation on this the final day and my goal was only to try my very best. With this background I am quite happy with my fourth place in the match play.
HB: In Bad Munder I also broke an old world record on a single lap of felt. Your 23 on the last lap is one stroke better than the old record made by Bianca Zodrow on the same course in 2003. How does it feel to be a world record holder?
SK: I was not aware of it myself until several people mentioned it to me. It’s quite cool and funny to hold this position :)
HB: Have your gold medal been noticed around you when you came back home?
SK: Yes, I was met with flowers and cake by my family and my mentor in the club Gert Svensson. The day after I came home we celebrated in the club house and there were several congratulation notes from the town I live in and many flowers.
HB: What will happen next in your Minigolf life?
SK: Now I will have a small break from Minigolf. It’s time to get started with school life again, but soon the indoor season starts and I will be playing some indoors like I usually do.
HB: Are you aiming to be back in Bad Munder next year for the World Championships?
SK: Yes, it's a clear goal for me and I will do my very best to get the opportunity to be back in Bad Munder. I really enjoyed it there!
HB: Thank you for taking this interview and good luck in the future!
SK: Thank You too!
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