When athlete Emma Green competed in the World Championships in Russia with rainbow-colored nails, it quickly became world news.
– Bigotry makes me so angry! I wanted to do something to show my commitment to human rights. rights and the equal value of people, says Emma.
Emma Green grew up in Bukärr outside Gothenburg. She describes her family as a real athletics family.
– My parents have also competed, but they have never curled or made demands on me, but rather held me back and didn't want me to invest too much too soon. But it has been good, because now I feel that the love for athletics comes from within and that I do it for my own sake, says Emma.
Career took off
When Emma was 14, she started training more regularly and two years later she won gold at the Youth Olympics in Spain. Then followed the Junior World Championships in Jamaica, where Emma reached the final with a result of 1.82 m. In her first World Championships for seniors, Emma won the bronze medal, with a jump of 1.96 m. In the same year, she jumped her personal best of 1.97 m, and also won the Swedish Championships gold in the long jump. For the next five years after Emma broke through, she made it to the final in every championship she participated in.
“I am most proud of my endurance and the silver medal from the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona,” says Emma. Then I jumped 201!
Rainbow over Moscow
In 2013, Emma went to Moscow to compete in the World Championships. Despite problems with her Achilles tendon, she felt
She is in good shape with great results.
– Before all major championships, questions about human rights usually arise, and this time a lot of it was about Russia's anti-gay laws.
When Emma had checked into the hotel and pulled up the curtains, she saw a big, massive rainbow in the sky and felt strongly that she wanted to do something.
– I took a picture and posted it on Instagram along with the text: nature shows Moscow, and hashtagged the post with #Pride.
The friend wrote: “we want to see more rainbows over Moscow!”
Emma received a message from a friend suggesting she paint her nails in rainbow colors for the championship, so she decided to paint her nails for the final.
– But then I started thinking about what it would be like if I didn't make it to the finals because of my Achilles tendon, and then I decided to run with rainbow nails already in the qualifying round.
The night before the qualifier, Emma posted a picture on Instagram of her freshly painted nails, which attracted a lot of attention in the media. The comments were both encouraging and worrying. The question of whether she could be imprisoned for her stance was also raised and the association came under pressure because it is forbidden to express political or religious views in the arena.
– But I just felt that you can forget about it, I'm not going to back down now! says Emma, who thought it was worth taking the risk it entailed.
It was only when she learned that it could affect the entire union that she decided to paint her nails red instead.
– I chose red nails to symbolize love, and that love can never be wrong! But I felt disappointed that the union didn't back me, and afterwards every journalist asked about the nails. There was clearly a lot of interest!
Encouragement for children and young people
Emma competed in her last championship in 2017. At the time, she was in good shape and eager to compete, but despite that, the competition ended with her injuring her Achilles tendon again and Emma decided to put an end to competing.
To all children who dream big, Emma says that it is important to dare to believe in what you are doing and make sure to get help along the way.
– Surround yourself with good people! It doesn't have to be a parent or someone in your family, it could just as well be someone on the other side of the world. Find forums and people who help and encourage you to get where you want to go!
Fly high, Emma!
Now there is a book inspired by Emma Green . About the love of athletics and the power of influencing and creating change.
