Sofia Thøgersen

Sofia Thøgersen (born 6 July 2005) is a Danish middle distance and long distance runner. A multiple-time national champion, and the Danish national record holder over 1500 metres, in 2023 she became the youngest Danish athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships.^[1]

Sofia Thøgersen

Personal information
Nationality	Denmark
Born	(2005-07-06) 6 July 2005 (age 18)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	1500m, 3000m, cross country
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	800m: 2:03.23 (Trier, 2023) 1500m: 4:05.34 (Budapest, 2023) NR 3000m: 8:50.26 (Metz, 2024) 5000m: 15:44.29 (Karlsruhe, 2023) 3000m steeplechase: 10:02.69 (Copenhagen, 2023)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Denmark European U20 Championships 2021 Talinn 3000m 2023 Jerusalem 1500m 2023 Jerusalem 5000m European Cross Country Championships 2023 Brussels U20 race European U18 Championships 2022 Jerusalem 3000m 2022 Jerusalem 2000m Steeplechase

Early life

Thøgersen joined Sparta Athletics and Running club in Østerbro when she was six years-old.^[2]

Career

2021

In 2921, Thøgersen became the senior Danish champion over 1500m, aged 16 years-old.^[3] Thøgersen won silver at the 2021 European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, in a 3000m world-leading time by an under-18 year-old athlete in Europe, of 9:16.43.^[4] In November 2021, competing as one of the youngest athletes in the race, Thøgersen finished 15th at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin.^[5]

2022

She won gold at the 2022 European Athletics U18 Championships over 3000m in Jerusalem and also won bronze at the 2000m steeplechase at the same championship.^[6] That year, she won two national titles indoors, over 1500 meters and 3000 meters.^[7][8] She also retained her Danish senior champion outdoor title over 1500m in Alborg in June 2022.^[9] She secured victory in the women’s U20 race at the Nordic Cross Country Championships in Kristiansand in November 2022.^[10]

2023

In 2023, she retained her senior 1500m title in June 2023.^[11] Selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships – Women's 1500 metres, she became the youngest Danish competitor in championship history, and had to apply for time-off from her school in order to compete.^[12] Although she didn’t qualify for the semi final, she ran a new national record time of 4:05.34.^[13] Thøgersen also set a new national record time for the 3000m in 2023, running 8.53.39 at the Copenhagen Athletics Games in Østerbro, improving Anna Emilie Møller's 18-year record by 17 seconds.^[14]

She defended her U20 women’s title at the Nordic Cross Country Championships in Reykjavík in November 2023.^[15] Selected for the 2023 European Cross Country Championships in Brussels in December 2023, she won silver in the women's U20 race behind Innes FitzGerald.^[16]

2024

In January 2024 in Metz, she broke the European indoor U20 record for the 3000 metres (8:50.26) breaking the previous mark (8:56.36) set by Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany, in 2016. Thøgersen's time was also a Danish indoor senior record, and made her the first Danish woman to break the 9:00-minute barrier indoors.^[17] She competed in the women's 1500 metres race at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.^[18]

References

1. "Sofia Thørgrsen". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
2. "Sofia Thørgesen". Sportsfyssen.dk. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
3. "Danish Championship results 2021". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
4. Clyne, Fraser (July 20, 2021). "Funny mix of feelings' for Inverness' Megan Keith after just missing out on European U20 medal". Press and Journal. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
5. "Danish distance running talent Thøgersen lands Nordic U20 cross country title". European Athletics. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
6. "Guld fra Jerusalem til Mørkhøj". sn.dk. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
7. "Danish Indoor Championship results 2022 - Day 1". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
8. "Danish Indoor Championship results 2022 - Day 2". Retrieved 10 December 2023.
9. "Danish Championship results 2022". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
10. "Norwegian silver and bronze for the junior women in the Nordic Championships". Kondis.no. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
11. "Here are the DM winners". TV2Nord. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
12. Sauermilch, Jonas (18 August 2023). "Sofia has asked for time off from school, because she is going to the WC as the youngest Dane ever". dr.dk. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
13. "Danish 1500-meter runner erases Danish record". Sport.tv2.dk. August 19, 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
14. "Verdensklasse-atletik på Østerbro Stadion". 24nyt.dk. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
15. "Thøgersen defends Nordic U20 cross country title on the road to Brussels". European Athletics. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
16. Rhodes, James (10 December 2023). "Brilliant Brits in Brussels – Weekend Round Up". Fast Running. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
17. "Bol launches season with a 22.64/49.69 double in Metz". European Athletics. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
18. "Women's 1500m Results - World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024". Watch Athletics. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.