CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Former Fighting Illini Women's Track & Field hurdler Susanna Kallur is heading to the Rio Olympic Games, August 5-21, representing Sweden. This will be Kallur's third Olympic appearance, the first two coming in 2004 and 2008. 100m hurdles competition will begin on August 16 and conclude the following evening, August 17.
After suffering a shin injury in 2012 that eventually required a long metal insert, Kallur returned to 100m hurdles competition this summer for the first time in six years, competing at the IAAF Diamond League in June. Kallur clocked a time of 13.00 in her return, placing fifth in the event.
Kallur made her Olympic debut at the Sydney Games in 2004 where she set a personal-best 100m hurdles time of 12.67. Four years later she returned to the Olympic stage in Beijing, but had her competition cut short after falling at the first hurdle of her semifinal race.
Before coming to Illinois, Kallur began her international career with a gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships in the 100m hurdles. Since that opening performance, Kallur has recorded four more gold medals at European championships. In 2007, she received the Jerring Award, given to the best sports person of Sweden.
In February of 2008, Kallur had one of the top performances of her career, as she set the current 60m hurdles world record with a time of 7.68.
At Illinois, Kallur was named the 2001 Big Ten Outdoor Freshman of the Year and earned her first All-America honor in the 100m hurdles. Kallur followed her freshman campaign up with two more All-American honors as a sophomore, placing third in both the 60m hurdles and 100m hurdles. At Drake Relays that year, Kallur ran the lead leg for the Illini shuttle hurdle relay that set the world record with a time of 52.85.
Born in Huntington, New York, Kallur comes from a family of sports excellence. Her father, Anders Kallur, won four Stanley Cup championships with the New York Islanders as a right wing. Susanna's twin sister, Jenny, also competed at Illinois where she was an All-American in the 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay.
Kallur currently resides in Falun, Dalarnas Ian with her daughter, Majken.
