Introduction: A moment of contrast on Stockholm’s track
On a sunny day at Stockholm’s Stadions, a young athlete stands with the official European Championship ball at her feet, the tartan track underlining a life split between football and running. The scene captures Carmen Cernjul at a crossroads that has shaped two demanding sports and one bold decision about where her future lies. The mood mixes nostalgia with ambition, a reminder that success can come from embracing one sport while still loving another.
Early life: A dual love for football and running
Growing up in Nacka, Carmen’s days were dominated by football. She invested heavily in the sport, often turning up to training with the same intensity that later defined her running. Running was more of a routine—something she did when time allowed and when the calendar permitted. As she put it, the running habit became a “side thing” that gradually grew with age and experience. Her football roots provided a powerful engine: the discipline, the miles of sprinting and hard accelerations that seeded the endurance essential for track events.
The turning point: balancing two demanding ambitions
The path was not easy. Her body bore the strain of dual training, and stress fractures in both feet during adolescence highlighted the physical limits of juggling two elite pursuits. Yet Carmen believed that both sports could reinforce each other. She recalls that conditioning from football—lots of max-effort running on a pitch—helped build a training volume that benefited her track work. The question wasn’t whether she could do both, but whether the demands of a professional football career would eventually push running aside. The answer she faced was stark: a professional damallsvenskan future demanded total commitment to football, leaving little room for the running life she had begun to love more each year.
Championships and milestones: a growing track résumé
Despite the split focus, Carmen’s achievements in running began to accumulate. She represented Sweden at youth events, finishing with a bronze at the U18 European Championship in 2024 in the 800 meters. In 2023 she competed at the Youth Olympic Games, and by 2025 she reached the U20 European Championships, earning silver in the 1500 meters and the 3000 meters. These results underscored not only her talent but also the unique synergy between playing football and chasing distance events. Her storytelling about these moments reveals a trajectory built on perseverance, a willingness to push through pain, and a belief that speed and stamina can be cultivated together.
Hammarby and the ultimatum: choosing a future
As the doors to Hammarby’s A-team opened, the club’s demand was clear: to reach the next level, Carmen would need to commit wholly to football. The warning was straightforward: if she wanted to advance within the Damallsvenskan, she had to focus 100 percent on soccer. It was a hard truth, but one that made sense to her. She recognized the logic—that a professional football career requires undivided dedication—and admitted that it wasn’t where her heart lay at the time. The decision was painful but necessary, marking a turning point in her athletic life.
Towards the Olympic dream: a future in running
With running already taking on a dominant role, Carmen’s sights shifted toward long-term goals. The breakthrough at U18 level and the strong performances at U20 events intensified her belief that she could compete on the world stage. She describes herself as deeply passionate about running and curious about how far she can go with continued training and consistency. The nascent dream is clear: an Olympic appearance in the near future. She continues to train with the same intensity that defined her football days, but now all efforts are aligned with running excellence.
Looking ahead: a life beyond the field with running at the center
Today, Carmen remains open to future possibilities. She notes that if she ever wishes to revisit football, she still has a football agent and contacts that could facilitate such a transition. For now, the plan is straightforward: commit fully to running, build on the momentum from major championships, and chase Olympic dreams. The journey illustrates a broader truth in sport: the skills learned in one discipline can propel you in another, and the courage to choose a path you love is often the most important step of all.
