EM-platsen came with an ultimatum – to do better than last year. But a cold can stop Melwin Lycke Holm's hope of going to the EM final in his first senior championship.
The 19-year-old still thinks it will be fun to debut at the senior level.
At lunchtime on Sunday, he and Fabian Delryd will face off in the qualifying round in high jump at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
Melwin Lycke Holm, the son of former high jumper Stefan Holm, had not cleared the Swedish Federation's qualifying limit of 2.22 before the selection. But a successful training session convinced national coach Kajsa Bergqvist that Lycke Holm would very well be able to clear it at the EM.
The day after the EM selection, he became ill and now he doesn't know if he'll be able to perform with a mild cold in 30-degree heat in the qualifying round.
Hearing his father's stories about what it's like to be at a championship can be helpful.
Father Stefan Holm, who is also his coach, is on site as support.
