The high jumper was last in the national track and field team's European Championship squad after a change in the start list last week. This led to Lycke Holm getting the 18th and final spot in the men's high jump in Apeldoorn.
On Thursday evening, he cleared 2.08 in his second attempt and 2.13 meters in his first, but failed to clear 2.18, one centimeter higher than his season best.
When I cleared 2.08 and 2.13, it felt really good. The approach was good too. Then it caught in both calves, in the first attempt at 2.18. I had a cramp feeling in both calves. And then it's not super fun to high jump. It sucked, damn it. It's really frustrating, says Melwin Lycke Holm.
It's so damn sad because it's not a good class today either. 18 faultless would have probably been enough for the final, he says and was later proven right.
Warm hall
Lycke Holm finished 16th in the qualifying round, which was attended by, among others, his father and coach Stefan Holm in the stands. Fabian Delryd, the other Swede in the men's high jump, finished 18th and last in the qualifying round, also stopping at 2.13.
Absolute no result I'm satisfied with, says the 28-year-old, who sometimes wore a thick jacket between jumps and had no problems with the temperature in the indoor arena Omnisport, which Lycke Holm thought was too warm.
It was nothing that hindered me. I thought it was quite nice. I like it when it's warm, says Delryd.
"It's empty"
Maja Åskag was also eliminated in the qualifying round, in the women's triple jump, after finishing ninth. She started promisingly with two jumps over 13.76 and 13.74 meters. But her third and final jump was a foul, and the 22-year-old ended up just outside the collection of the eight jumpers who made it to the final.
It's empty, I'd say, says she.
