Two sports, one journey on Stockholm’s stadium stage
In a striking scene at Stockholm’s Stadions tartan track, a runner’s kit meets an official European Championship ball at her feet. Carmen Cernjul stands with a quiet mix of pride and wistfulness as the ball rests near her. There’s a touch of melancholy in the air, a reminder of a life split between football boots and running spikes.
“Yes, a little. But I know I will always keep football in me,” she reflects, acknowledging the deep roots that pulled her toward sprinting and distance running even as she grew up on the soccer pitch. “I love football and am proud and grateful for everything I’ve experienced.”
Why the dual path didn’t make sense to rush apart
From Nacka, the 18-year-old’s upbringing feels almost illogical given her current sport of choice. She acknowledges that the path of many of her former teammates led toward national teams in football, yet she chose to pursue running with equal seriousness for many years. “I would say that I’ve invested absolutely most in football through the years. Running has been something I’ve done when I had time, and it got tougher with age. I had to run home from football training to fit running into my everyday life.”
Today, running began as a sideline activity that became more central as time passed. The decision to double down on athletics alongside football has shaped her career in surprising ways. She notes that the two disciplines have fed each other more than they pulled apart and believes her progress owes much to this cross-pollination.
From club to global stage: the crossovers with football backgrounds
There’s a broader trend in Swedish athletics: several runners on the national team share football pedigrees. She points to peers like Andreas Almgren—whose bronze on the 10,000 meters in Tokyo has inspired many—and others with football roots such as Hanna Hermansson and Ebba Cronholm. “It’s clear these sports give a lot to each other,” she says, recalling her time as a strong middle and long-distance runner for Hammarby’s F19 side, where her bursts up the left wing were a familiar sight.
Her insight into the cross-pollination runs deeper: “You don’t think about it a lot, but you make countless max efforts on a football pitch, and that creates the volume that can help you excel in more than just sprinting.”
Injuries, choices, and the price of chasing two dreams
The doubling act hasn’t been easy. Between the ages of 14 and 15, she suffered stress fractures in both feet—an alarmingly stark reminder of the physical toll of juggling two high-demand sports. “That was far too much for that age,” she says openly, acknowledging the limits she faced.
The dilemma intensified when Hammarby’s top squad made its expectations plain. If she wanted to take the next step with the club, she would have to commit wholly to football. “They have been very clear that if I were to take a new step with them, I had to dedicate myself 100 percent to football. That has been the case from their side,” she explains, reflecting on the tough ultimatum. “I understood their thinking—that you have to have your heart in football to play in the top league.”
The turning point: running takes the lead and dreams grow
Gradually, running ceased to be the sideline and started steering her future. After last year’s bronze at the U18 European Championships, a new momentum took hold. “I’ve received enormous support from many in athletics who truly believed in me. That has drawn me more toward running,” she notes, and she hasn’t looked back since. Her profile on the track rose in tandem with her football commitments, culminating in a sustained focus on running as the path forward.
Today, she’s a familiar face in Sweden’s junior ranks, with a string of medals and high finishes. The results include a silver at the U20 European Championships in 2025 for the 1500 and 3000 meters, and a bronze at the U18 championship in the 800 meters in 2024. She has balanced club duties with international camps and European competition, including the spring 2024 F17-EM campaign.
Looking ahead: OS dreams and a potential return to football?
Standing on the Stadions grass, she envisions a podium that extends beyond national borders. “I have big goals to make it to the Olympics in three years. I’m passionate about running and curious to see how far I can go,” she says, her eyes fixed on a future where consistency and continued development could unlock the sport’s highest echelons.
Yet the door isn’t closed on football. She keeps her football agent, Linus Gunnarsson, in her corner, ready to revisit the game if the moment—and the sport—calls. “So I don’t want to answer that question yet. I’ll let it come as it happens. Right now I want to focus 100 percent on running. I know I have a very high capacity and a lot to still gain,” she says with quiet certainty.
Her story is a reminder that two passions can coexist, even if the path requires tough choices. The field may be a future in which she excels, but the spirit of football—teamwork, speed, and grit—continues to accompany her on the track. And whether the ball eventually returns to a new stadium floor or stays tucked away as a cherished memory, Carmen Cernjul’s commitment to becoming one of Sweden’s leading runners remains resolute.
