She was a world star, celebrated following the Olympic gold in the 100-meter hurdles in Atlanta in 1996, who during her athletics career even overcame breast cancer.
But then came the unexpected career change for bob – and in 2001: the doping confession. In a hotel outside Copenhagen, in front of a few selected sports journalists, Ludmila Engquist told that she had tested positive for anabolic steroids and that she had tried to take her own life.
Then she disappeared – literally. Both from Sweden and from the limelight.
But when the former athletics national team friends Erica Johansson and Maria Akraka get in touch, Ludmila answers. And agree to meet.
Divorced from former husband
She is almost 60 today and lives in Spain. And has divorced Johan Engquist, her former husband and coach.
– It’s not easy. Spain is not home, but it is comfortable, she says.
– The separation has made me free in my thoughts, I can finally do what I want. It might also be cowardly to stay where it’s comfortable, but I’m almost 60. I choose the comfortable way of life.
“I felt terribly bad”
At the same time, Ludmila Engquist does not want to look back, it will be too difficult, she says. The only people she has contact with today are her children.
When the bobsled venture comes up, however, she tells more – and insists that it was her idea, not Johan Engquist’s:
– It was my idea. But not because I wanted to go bobsledding. I was in a depression when I quit (athletics) the way I did, with a hamstring injury. I felt terribly bad.
– And then the opportunity came with the bob, to get busy once more with some investment, some training.
The SVT documentary “Hall of Fame”, where Ludmila Engquist is in focus in two episodes, will be published on April 28 on SVT Play.
