Janne Holmlund Passes Away – Ski Jumper Was 68 Years Old

It is with heavy hearts that we in the Swedish winter sports family have received this news. Janne Holmlund, one of our most beloved ski jumpers, has passed away at the age of 68. For those of us who followed him over the years, it feels like an entire era has come to an end.

A Beloved Figure on the Hill

Janne was more than just an athlete. He was a personality who brought life to any ski jump. For those who grew up with winter sports in the 80s and 90s, the name Janne Holmlund was synonymous with courage and a wonderful Scanian charm. He belonged to the generation that laid the foundation for the status Swedish ski jumping still holds today. Watching him soar from the K90 hill was a pure joy, whether it was for the Swedish Championships or World Cup events.

Sorrow Across the Skiing Community

All across the country, voices are being heard from everyone who knew Janne. It’s not just the results that people remember, but above all his passion for the sport. When I spoke with some former colleagues from the federation this afternoon, no one mentioned any single competition. Everyone talked about the same thing: the man, Janne. He had a gift for making the whole team feel at ease, even when the wind was gusty and nerves were at their peak.

These are the kinds of figures that Sven "Plex" Petersson and many others from that era have always spoken so warmly about. Plex and Janne were part of the same crew, a core group of jumpers who truly lived for that feeling of freedom in the air. They carried Swedish ski jumping through a time when it might not have always made the headlines, but when the love for the sport was at its strongest.

Remembering the Career That Built a Legacy

Janne Holmlund represented Sweden in several international championships. His strength wasn’t always in the very highest placements, but in immense consistency and a contagious determination. During his active years, he became a role model for many young jumpers who looked up to him. Personally, he was one of those athletes you knew would always give their all, whether in training or competition.

• Born: 1958, and even as a young man he showed the talent that would come to define Swedish ski jumping for over a decade.
• Active: Throughout the 80s and early 90s, Janne was a constant name on the national team and a mainstay in the Swedish ski jumping elite.
• Legacy: He leaves behind a tremendous impact, not least in the form of the respect and warmth that colleagues like Sven "Plex" Petersson and other veterans still carry with them.

Now, we await the chance to honour him in the way he deserves. It will surely be a moment at one of the hills where he once made so many of us ecstatic. Janne Holmlund leaves a great void, but also a story of a time when ski jumping was as much about heart as it was about technique. Rest in peace, Janne. You will never be forgotten.