Patrik Sjoberg at the 1995 IAAF World Championships (© Getty Images)
Former high jump world record holder and three-time Olympic medallist Patrik Sjoberg has retired from jumping and said he will instead teach U.S. NBA basketball players to jump higher.
Sjoberg, 34, who took a silver at the 1984 Olympics, bronze at the 1988 games and a silver at the 1992 Olympics, reached the height of his career when he set a world record of 2.42 metres in 1987, at a time when few athletes made it above the 2.30 mark. But back problems have plagued his career in recent years.
"It is simply impossible to train hard, I would probably have to be operated on to continue functioning like a normal person," he told the Swedish news agency TT.
Sjoberg, one of Sweden's greatest athletes, will instead teach U.S. basketball players how to jump higher, and possibly soccer players as well.
"This is undoubtedly something I can do that will be a hell of a lot of fun," Sjoberg said.
The Swede said he planned to set up a sports complex in southern Spain to use as a training facility for world class basketball players.
"In the first place I will work with players from the Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets," he told Swedish daily Expressen on Tuesday. He has also been in contact with Spain's Barcelona and Real Madrid football clubs.
Sjoberg also won the World Cup indoor gold in 1985, bronze in 1989 and silver in 1992. He also won a World Cup gold in 1987. He has jumped 2.30 or higher in 112 competitions.
"The world record...is my greatest moment as an athlete and the worst moment was the injury ahead of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta," he said.
