Maria Akraka

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Akraka in January 2014

Maria Akraka ( Maria Helene Akraka, married Henriksson; born July 7, 1966 in London ) is a former Swedish middle-distance runner .

In 1987 she reached the semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships in Rome over 800 m . At the European Athletics Championships in 1990 in Split and the 1991 World Cup in Tokyo, she was eliminated over the same distance in the preliminary run.

In 1992 she was eighth over 1500 m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Genoa and reached the semifinals at the Olympic Games in Barcelona . Over the same distance she was sixth at the World Athletics Championships in 1993 in Toronto.

In 1994 she was tenth over 1500 m at the European Championships in Helsinki and was eliminated over 800 m in the semi-finals.

In 1995 she reached the semi-finals at the World Championships in Gothenburg over 1500 m and in 1998 at the EM in Budapest over 800 m.

She was Swedish champion over 800 m seven times (1987-1991, 1993, 1994), three times over 1500 m (1993-1995), twice over 3000 m (1992, 1993) and once in cross-country skiing on the short distance (1998). In 1993 she won the national 800 m title indoors.

Her father, Smart Akraka, is a retired Nigerian sprinter. She is married to the former triple jumper Tord Henriksson and became a sports commentator on Swedish television after her active career.

Personal bests

  • 400 m : 54.50 s, 20 August 1988, Malmö
  • 800 m: 2: 00.58 min, August 8, 1991, Lahti
    • Hall: 2: 00.01 min, February 19, 1998, Stockholm
  • 1000 m : 2: 38.70 min, August 24, 1994, Gothenburg (Swedish record)
    • Hall: 2: 40.51 min, February 11, 1993, Madrid
  • 1500 m: 4: 08.63 min, August 19, 1994, Brussels
    • Hall: 4: 07.74 min, February 18, 1992, Genoa
  • 1 mile : 4:32.04 min, September 10, 1993, London
  • 2000 m : 5: 47.76 min, September 4th 1994, Sheffield
  • 3000 m : 9: 04.35 min, August 28, 1994, Stockholm

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Akraka, Maria
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Akraka, Maria Helene; Henriksson, Maria
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish middle distance runner
DATE OF BIRTH July 7, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH London