– I’m in good shape. My goal was to be in the top 5 or top 3. This is my first time representing Norway. I am extremely happy, the silver medalist told NRK.

– I can’t describe it. I have no words to explain it, said the silver medalist.

Mezngi’s silver is only the second medal in Norwegian international championship history in the men’s 10,000 metres. Are Nakkim won silver at the European Championships in 1990.

The story behind EC Money makes the success even greater.

Mezngi, who comes from Eritrea, fled a military camp after seven years. He has now represented Norway since 2020.

But in 2019, he wanted to quit. Since he was not a Norwegian citizen, he could not participate in the European Championship. For Television 2 he told me he was considering becoming a taxi driver.

But Mezngi was helped by local forces, who put in place a training plan and started the process of obtaining citizenship.

He maintained his commitment to athletics for nine years. So, on Sunday, he got a full refund.

– The Norwegian system has welcomed me with open arms. I have a talent, and I have to use it to give something back, Mezngi said in an interview with NRK a few years ago.

Came as a surprise

In advance, Sunday’s race was not to give medals to the Norwegian athletes. But in the final laps of a tough 10,000m, the 36-year-old was shocked when he suddenly took the lead.

He had a gap with his competitors from the start of the race, and for a moment it looked like it could be European Championship gold. However, he was passed by the Italian Yemaneberhan Crippa. Frenchman Yann Schrub won bronze.

This did not affect the joy of money.

– It’s been a long road for you to get here. From Eritrea as a soldier and to Norway as a refugee. How difficult was it for you?

– It was the best thing that could happen to come to Norway, he said.

– I am extremely happy in Norway. I actually wonder if I’m going to sleep with the flag tonight, he smiles.

– cares about everyone

Crippa’s winning time was 27.46.13. Mezngi was registered in 27.46.94. It was a personal record.

– I was in good shape. My goal was to be in the top three, maybe top five, he said.

Coach Asle Rønning Tjelta says Mezngi is an extremely grateful athlete.

– He cares about everyone who helps him. It means a lot to everyone around him. There are many contributing people around me and Zerei. It’s not something we do alone. There are many ingenious people in Stavanger who allow us to continue in this way. Now that things are going my way, I hope there are many who wish this on Zerei.

– I spoke to Zerei

Sunday’s silver came as a complete surprise to most who followed the race, including NRK pundit Vebjørn Rodal.

– It was fun and surprising. I spoke to Zerei. I was talking about a fifth or sixth place. Then we end up with a silver medal. This is a bad analysis by the expert, says Rodal, the NRK expert, who had no confidence in the Norwegian medals before the competition.

Erlend Slotvik, head of sport at the Norwegian Athletics Federation, was a bit more optimistic than Rodal.

– We had barely mentioned the possibility of a third place. I had some hope, so I brought a flag. But what he did was completely rude. There was a moment when I really thought he was going to win and. It sounded crazy, he said.

The other two Norwegian participants in the race, Magnus Tuv Myhre and Bjørnar Sandnes Lillefosse, were number 7 and 20 respectively. They ran in 28.02.18 and 28.59.67.

– I was almost more focused on the big screen than on my own race in the final laps. It was very fun. Extremely deserved. He’s had a lot of injuries lately, says Magnus Tuv Myhre.