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– It was almost unreal when the first school found out, says Theodor Melin Öhrström.
– My dream and my plan have certainly been to come to the United States, and the idea was that I would go there next summer to visit some universities and attend a “show camp”. So of course it was very, very fun when they got in touch.
Theodor Melin Öhrström, 16 years old., who plays on the Tyresö Royal Crown U17 team, started football four years ago.
Until then he had played soccer.
– American football caught my attention through YouTube. He just needed a workout before he knew this was what he wanted to do, he says.
What is it about football that is so fun?
– It is a sport where there is room for everyone, no matter how big or small it is. But what I like the most is the team. It’s huge, and probably difficult to compare to any other sport, “says Theodor.
– All players are important and interdependent. If someone does something wrong, nothing works. This means that everyone is equally important and that one should feel great confidence in each other.
Theodor Melin Öhrström showed early he was a great talent in sports who quickly fell in love.
This fall, therefore, he took a place at the Riksidrottsgymnasiet (RIG) at Celsiusskolan in Uppsala, where two more Tyresö players attend, Erik Elfwing and Robin Lindgren.
Andreas Ehrenreich, co-founder of Tyresö Royal Crowns, is one of the school’s two full-time coaches.
– The final dream of many of our students is to play college in the United States. The mission we have at RIG is to create an international elite of ambitious boys and girls who are accepted, says Andreas Ehrenreich.
– The goal is for them to represent Sweden, and a player who is good enough to play at a high university level will be good enough to represent Sweden. Therefore, the dream of the players is a priority for us.
Theodor Melin Öhrström during a match with Tyresö’s royal crowns.
Photo: Private
For Theodor Melin Öhrström The dream seems possible. The tug of war for him has already begun.
The first school to show interest was the University of Central Florida with the UCF Knights team.
But Florida Atlantic University (FAU Owls) has also reported its interest in Swedish talent.
“I intend to do everything possible to make the dream come true,” says the teenager with a defined tone in her voice.
In the United States, college sports are great. And college football games attract large audiences. The University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights Stadium, for example, has room for just over 44,000 spectators.
– If you are not interested in football, I think it is hard to even imagine what movement is on the stand during games, says Theodor, and he gets some long voice when he talks about what he hopes his future will be.
How many do you tend to be and watch when you play matches in Sweden?
– At the level I am, there is usually a group of parents who are there. It will be a great contrast, says the teenager and laughs.
“I’m going to do everything I can to make the dream come true,” says Theodor Melin Öhrström, of the opportunity to play in the United States.
Photo: Jonas Lindkvist
The possibility of get to play American football in the United States may be the biggest driver, but the purchase will also give Theodor a very good education.
– It feels very good. My mother has always placed great emphasis on school and has been careful to care for her. Then he is very happy, says the teenager with a new laugh.
But before it’s time to leave Sweden to achieve the dream, another two years are waiting for high school.
How well Theodor thrives at the Uppsala National Gymnasium is evident throughout our conversation. Over and over again he sees how good the training opportunities are and how much he has developed during this first year of school.
– They offer us the best training imaginable, he says.
Although Theodor is already 197 centimeters longMost indicate that it will be even longer the day high school ends.
– Yes, it probably hasn’t grown yet. In the last six months alone I have grown three inches.
It is also believed that the number of kilos increased when he leaves high school.
– My goal when I finish high school is to weigh between 108 and 110 kilos. But weight is not what matters most now, but what I want to continue working on is my speed. For my age and my size I am already quite fast, but there is always room for improvement.
