Olsson targets record

His opening leap of 17.51 metres took him automatically into the final, well past the automatic qualifying of 16.95 and the third longest jump by a European this season.

"I would have liked to do more jumps in front of this fantastic home crowd. I had to deceive them but at a qualification it is always better to do only one jump," he told reporters.

"I have the capacity to jump the world record, but for Saturday I would rather set a new national record."

Great Britain's Jonathan Edwards set the world record of 18.29 at the same Ullevi stadium during the 1995 world championships, a feat which inspired Olsson to switch from the High Jump.

The 26-year-old has had a niggling foot injury that needed four operations since his Olympic triumph in Athens two years ago, but a 17.09 comeback jump in June and Europe-leading 17.62 in Lausanne last month have brought him right back to the forefront of triple jumping.

"This is great proof that the form is there," said Olsson.

"I was quite nervous because going into qualifying I didn't know what my form was like. I haven't had the best preparation or confidence."

British hope Phillips Idowu - whose career has also been riddled with injury - also qualified automatically with a 17.01m jump.