Axel Vang Christensen (born 30 July 2004) is a Danish track and field athlete and cross-country runner. He is the 2021 and 2023 European Cross Country U20 champion.[1]

Axel Vang Christensen
Personal information
NationalityDanish
Born (2004-07-30) 30 July 2004 (age 20)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Steeplechase, cross-country
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)3000m Steeplechase: 8:29.12 (Bergen, 2022)
5km: 13:42 (Monaco, 2022)
10km: 29:01 (Århus, 2022)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Denmark
European U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Tallinn 3000m steeplechase
European Cross Country Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Dublin U20 race
Gold medal – first place 2023 Brussels U20 race

Early life

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Christensen was brought up in Hillerod, to the north of Copenhagen. He started running initially just in order to increase his fitness for football. However, he won an under-age national title when 11 years-old and changed his focus to athletics.[2] He attended the University of Birmingham, where he was a contemporary of Will Barnicoat.[3]

Career

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In 2021 he won silver in the 3000 Metres Steeplechase at the 2021 European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn.[4] He won the U20 race at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin.[5]

In 2021, he also won the Danish national championships over 10k, and retained the title in 2022, finishing a minute ahead of Thijs Nijhuis. In 2022, in Lillesø, he beat the Jakob Ingebrigtsen's U20 European record for 3000 meters indoors.[6] He competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich, however he picked up an injury during the race and could not complete the course.[7]

In December 2023, he won the 2023 European Cross Country Championships U20 race in Brussels, finishing strongly ahead of Niels Laros and Nick Griggs.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Axel Vang Christensen". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Gold in Dublin could be just the beginning for Scandinavia's latest distance running prodigy Christensen". European-Athletics. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ Henderson, Jason (December 11, 2022). "Barnicoat pips Griggs in Euro Cross U20 thriller". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ^ Smythe, Steve (July 19, 2021). "European U20 Championships, Tallinn, Estonia, July 15-18, 2021". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Christensen Dominates U20 Race". Runners Gazette. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Denmark's 17-year-old running phenomenon does it again". dr.dk. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  7. ^ Poggi, Alessandro. "Heartwarming sportsmanship displayed by Andorran steeplechase runner at 2022 European athletics championships in Munich". Olympics.com. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  8. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (10 December 2023). "Nick Griggs's bronze run leads Ireland to European team under-20 gold in Brussels". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 December 2023.