Emil Holm

It’s no surprise then that having had his first taste of SLT action in 2022, the Dane returns for this autumn’s series, but this time with experience of all four race venues – London, Toulouse, Malibu and NEOM – under his belt.

It wasn’t a bad debut season either. After a tentative start in London where he finished 14th, the 27-year-old from Stevns, south of Copenhagen, secured four top 10 finishes for Tim Don’s Eagles and retains his place in the Santara Tech-sponsored squad as part of a fearsome men’s line-up that includes Kristian Blummenfelt, Leo Bergere and Matt Hauser.

Holm’s own form has been solid too. Wins are always hard to come by in elite triathlon, so a confidence-boosting victory at the Africa Triathlon Cup Dakhla in December sent him into winter training in confident mood. 

From March, he had four consecutive top 10 performances, culminating in fifth place at the European Championship in Madrid in May in a race that was turned into a duathlon due to the water quality. It was a month when he also won the national super sprint title. 

The Dane has gained more experience in the World Triathlon Championship too, with his best result a 14th place in Sunderland and has also taken part in four mixed team relays which should put him in good stead for the testing environment of Super League. 

Coached by his dad despite neither of his parents having a background in triathlon, Holm says his family is without doubt his biggest inspiration – “Today our life is 100% dedicated to the sport. My sister is on the national team with me, our dad is coaching us, and our mum is the logistics master!” Holm was crowned Danish national champion in 2018 and 2019, and was runner-up in last year’s Nordic Championship in Linköping.

A consistent performer on the World Cup circuit, he also achieved an eighth place in Arzachena, Italy in May, and placed 14th in a stacked field in Bergen, Norway in August. One of his proudest moments was the World Triathlon Championship mixed team relay bronze in Hamburg in 2021, which followed a 10th place finish the previous day in the individual event. “It was an amazing team effort. Everyone stepped up their game and it gave me huge belief in myself.”

Holm also tries to give back through the sport where he can, and when he’s not competing himself enjoys coaching the young athletes at his local club.