In February, Stefan Holm was presented as the new athletics expert at Radiosporten, Sveriges Radio. There were plans for the high jump legend, who has taken Olympic gold and jumped 2.40 meters, to make his commentary debut at the beginning of the indoor European Championship. But it may not happen until Sunday when this year's first international championship concludes.
The reason? Holm will be training his son Melwin Lycke Holm, who received a late European Championship ticket to Apeldoorn, on site in the Netherlands.
"I'm starting my Radiosporten job by taking a break, but we knew all along that it could happen that way, so it's not dramatic in itself. More comical," writes Stefan Holm in a text message to TT.
Bergqvist called during the exam
It's only just over a week since Lycke Holm, who is ranked 45th in Europe this year with 2.17, was selected after a Greek jumper withdrew.
I slipped in here a bit at the last minute. I was selected on Wednesday (last week) when I was taking an exam. After the exam, I had a bunch of missed calls from Kajsa (Bergqvist, team captain), says the 20-year-old, who is studying to be a web developer at Karlstad University parallel to athletics, at a press conference on Wednesday.
Melwin Lycke Holm sees no problem with his father's double job, which will not involve commenting on himself.
Feelings in the back
It's really cool. It's nice to know that there's some kind of stable income at home. It doesn't affect me that much otherwise. Both because it's set up for him to be able to train me, and also because I don't listen to the radio that much, says Lycke Holm.
The high jumper is also not worried that his relationship with other athletes will be affected.
No, I don't think so. What very many people may know, but also need to be reminded of, is that my dad and I are not the same person. I hope my competitors here remember that. What he says is not always what I think myself.
Melwin Lycke Holm, gold medalist in the junior European Championship in Jerusalem in 2023 and eliminated in the qualifying round in the European Championship in Rome last year, has no high expectations for himself ahead of the European Championship start. He is also struggling with feelings in his right thigh, the jumping bone.
I came in as 18th (jumper) out of 18 possible. Anything other than last place in the qualifying round is a plus, I think, he says.
18.20: High jump, men, qualifying: Melwin Lycke Holm, Fabian Delryd.
18.35: Triple jump, women, qualifying: Maja Åskag.
19.55: 1,500 meters, men, heat: Samuel Pihlström.
20.30: Long jump, men, qualifying: Thobias Montler.
SVT broadcasts from 18.15 in Play and 20.00 in SVT1. Radiosporten broadcasts from 18.20.
