Emma Green (athlete)
A Swedish high jump stylist who soared over two meters, claiming world championship bronze and captivating fans with her vibrant personality.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Swedish high jumper·Birthday: December 8·Millennials
Biography
Emma Green won a surprise bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, announcing a new force in European high jumping. The Swedish athlete pushed her national record, ultimately clearing 2.01 meters—a barrier only a handful of women have ever breached. She competed in two Olympic Games and stood on the podium at the European Championships. Her career was punctuated by her expressive nature, from dyed hair to painted fingernails that sparked international conversation. Though injuries played a role in her career timeline, she elevated Swedish athletics and demonstrated the event's blend of art and science.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Emma was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Emma Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Emma's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the bronze medal in the high jump at the 2005 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki.
- Cleared a personal best and Swedish record of 2.01 meters in 2010.
- Secured a silver medal at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona.
- Represented Sweden at the Olympic Games in both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Did You Know?
She painted her fingernails in the colors of the rainbow in support of LGBTQ rights during the 2013 World Championships, which initially led to a warning from athletics officials.
Green is a trained singer and has performed the Swedish national anthem at sporting events.
She was coached by Yannick Tregaro, whom she later married, leading to her sometimes being referred to as Emma Green Tregaro.
She comes from a sporting family; her father was a decathlete.
“The bar is a silent opponent, and my goal is to conquer it.”
