Stefan Holm, the 2004 Olympic high jump champion from Sweden, has been named an ambassador for the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.
With a week to go to the IAAF’s premiere showcase event, set for September 27 until October 6, Holm is looking forward to following all the action at the Qatari capital’s state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium.
“I am, of course, honoured to be an IAAF ambassador during the World Championships,” said Holm, who competed at five consecutive editions of the World Championships between 1999 and 2007, earning silver in 2003. “It’s the biggest, and best, athletics competition in the world and it’s great to be a part of it and the sport that I love.”
Holm also won four world indoor titles during his career before retiring from top-level competition in 2008. He is still heavily involved in the sport and is coach to some of Sweden’s leading athletes.
He – and many of the home supporters – will have a keen eye on the men’s high jump in Doha, where Mutaz Barshim will defend his title.
“Of course I’m looking forward to the high jump competitions for both men and women,” said Holm. “And as a Swede I’m really looking forward to seeing Daniel Ståhl and Armand Duplantis go for gold. And, last but not least, I also have a feeling that the men’s 400m hurdles can bring something extra this time around.”
Holm joins long jump world record-holder Mike Powell, multiple world and Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton and 2016 world indoor pentathlon champion Brianne Theisen-Eaton as an ambassador for the championships’ 17th edition.
(IAAF)
