High jumper Melwin Lycke Holm, 21, grew up in Karlstad. From an early age he was strongly influenced by his father, the Olympic champion in high jump, Stefan Holm. As a multiple junior champion, both nationally and internationally, Melwin is now taking the final step into senior-level competition after this year’s outdoor season. At the same time, he is studying sports science at Karlstad University as part of the Elite Sports University programme and plans to graduate next spring.
When did you yourself become interested in high jump, and when did you decide to pursue your sport at an elite level?
“I don’t remember exactly when, but there are videos of me jumping high at home in the living room over Lego, wearing only a diaper. I often joined my dad in the Våxnäshallen arena, but the first time I truly felt the competitive spirit was in fourth grade when we were competing in the Karlstad Championships, KM. I came second in high jump and was determined to win the following year. Later, when my dad started coaching athletes like Sofie Skoog, it became natural for me to join the training in Våxnäshallen. Eventually, thinking about an elite career wasn’t far off. I’ve always found high jump easy, and I should add that I won KM in fifth grade.”
How many times a day do you train?
“When I’m training the hardest, it’s 15 sessions a week. But it varies depending on the time of year. I train the most before the indoor season because there’s more time for training; there’s less time to prepare before the outdoor season. The type of training I find toughest? Once a week I have a running session—often ten kilometres—which is really tough, to put it mildly. I don’t have the endurance for it since my sport is so explosive. A strength session can also be really tough; it depends on the day.”
You jump very high in high jump but you’re also skilled in long jump and triple jump. But high jump is the main focus?
“High jump is my main focus; it always has been. But I’ve also trained in team contexts, which you do in athletics when you’re 13–14 years old during the Svealand Regional Championships. That’s where I got to try both long jump and triple jump, and I did well. I was, for example, the best triple jumper in Sweden at that age, so eventually I also competed for the national team in both events. Last summer, before the team European Championships, I was thrown into the triple jump competition at the last minute as a reserve. I scored more points than expected, so I contributed to the team. One of my long jumps even went viral on Instagram because I did a somersault during the jump, haha! It’s fun to be able to say I’ve competed in all three events in international matches.”
Your personal record in high jump is 2.24 metres outdoors and 2.22 metres indoors. How high do you think you’ll jump during the 2026 season?
“It’s hard to say. It felt like I had a lot more in me last winter when I jumped 2.22. My goal is 2.30 because that’s the ticket into the world elite. If I’m allowed to dream, maybe it will happen before the summer ends.”
It has been reported in the newspapers that you ‘fired’ your father Stefan as your coach and are considering moving to Umeå with your girlfriend, who plans to study there. Is that true?
“Yes, the plan is to move this autumn because my girlfriend has applied to study there. However, I intend to finish my degree remotely through Karlstad University. I have about two semesters left, including my thesis, so distance studies should work fine. I’m taking a degree in sports science and have taken several courses from the Sports and Coaching Programme.”
“I now plan my own training and write my own training programme. Dad coaches others, so he will always be in the background, but I’m the one with the main responsibility now. It’s been that way for about a year.”
Why did you choose that programme, and why Karlstad University?
“I knew when I finished high school that I wanted to study. Studying at a higher level and training is a good combination. I started with a few individual courses to try it out. Choosing sports felt natural since that’s what I do. Choosing Karlstad University was probably because my dad and I live here, and also because my godfather, Christian Augustsson, works there.”
You are enrolled in the Elite Sports University programme at Karlstad University. How is it to combine studies with elite-level sport?
“Overall, it works very well. We can move exams and get other kinds of support so that it fits with my competitions. Some days I need to train very early to make it to lectures and other commitments at the university, which can make the days long, but in general it works very well.”
You have won many medals at championships both nationally and internationally and have been Swedish junior champion since 2020. What are your goals for 2026?
“I have around 40 medals. I’ve won every junior championship nationally and have only lost one of the international junior championships I’ve competed in. This summer I have one more national junior competition before I fully move into senior-level competition. Then there’s the European Championships in Birmingham in August, and later the national senior championships, where I aim to win my 10th gold. Those last two are the main focus for the outdoor season.”
What would you do if you didn’t do high jump?
“Sometimes when things haven’t gone well, I’ve asked myself what I would do instead. But athletics is where I belong, so I’ll probably stay for a long time!”
