Kansas State’s Emil Uhlin never imagined he would find himself in the heart of the Midwest.
Born and raised in a small Swedish town, Uhlin’s path to becoming a standout decathlete at K-State is one marked by challenges, determination and a leap of faith across the globe.
Uhlin grew up just outside of a town similar in size to Manhattan where he first discovered his love for sports. From soccer to track to the Swedish ice sport bandy, Uhlin tried his hand at everything.
But as he got older, his focus shifted.
“Team sports weren’t for me,” Uhlin explained. “I wanted to win, and I realized I needed to be in a sport where my success depended solely on my own performance.”
That realization led Uhlin to apply to one of Sweden’s few track high schools, highly selective institutions dedicated to developing the country’s top young athletes. With only a small number of spots available each year, getting accepted was no small feat. However, Uhlin earned his place and soon found his passion for the decathlon, a grueling 10-event competition that tests the limits of an athlete’s versatility.
After high school, Uhlin faced a dilemma familiar to many young athletes in Sweden. With no collegiate sports system, Uhlin could either turn professional, find sponsorship or give up full-time training in favor of a more traditional career.
It was a tough decision, made even more difficult when several of his high school friends began heading to the U.S. for collegiate athletics. Inspired by their experiences, Uhlin began exploring the possibility of studying and competing abroad.
Initially, he set his sights on Hawaii, hoping to study marine biology while staying close to the ocean. When those plans fell through, Uhlin began reaching out to top track programs across the U.S., eventually connecting with K-State.
“I hated the idea of Kansas at first,” Uhlin said. “But when I saw the reputation of [former head coach] Cliff Rovelto, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to train with him.”
The road to K-State wasn’t easy. After graduating from high school in 2019, Uhlin’s plans to start school in the U.S. were delayed by the COVID pandemic. Visa issues and travel restrictions forced him to wait an additional year before finally making the move in 2021.
Despite the hurdles, Uhlin arrived just in time for the start of the school year.
Adapting to life in the Little Apple presented its own set of challenges.
“It’s so flat here,” Uhlin laughed, recalling his first impressions of the area. “In Sweden, we have hills and rolling landscapes, so Kansas was a bit of a shock.”
The lack of public transportation was another surprise, prompting Uhlin to purchase a used car on Facebook Marketplace to get around.
“It’s a rust bucket, but it gets me where I need to go,” he said.
While navigating a new environment, Uhlin also faced challenges in the classroom. Though Swedish students learn English from a young age, speaking and understanding the language in an academic setting proved difficult at first.
“I thought I was good at English until I got here,” he said. “It was tough, especially when professors wore masks or had heavy accents.”
Despite these initial struggles, Uhlin found a strong sense of community with his teammates at K-State.
“The track team became like a second family,” he said. “We spent a lot of time together, and that made all the difference.”
His relationship with Rovelto also played a key role in his development.
“Coach Rovelto gave me a lot of freedom in my training, but he also pushed me to be my best,” Uhlin said.
Unfortunately, Uhlin’s athletic journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Last season, he underwent surgery for an ankle injury that had plagued him for over two years.
“We found out there were pieces of bone that had broken off and were stuck in my ankle,” he said. “The recovery has been slow, but I’m getting stronger every day.”
Looking forward, Uhlin has big dreams. He hopes to compete professionally and has set his sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” Uhlin said. “I want to see how far I can take this.”
Outside of track, Uhlin’s passion for marine biology remains strong. He hopes to one day work in the field, ideally in a location near the water.
“I’ve been into fishing my whole life, so working in marine biology has always been a dream,” he said.
As he approaches his final year at K-State, Uhlin reflects on how far he’s come.
“Moving halfway across the world to a place you’ve never been, with people you’ve never met, was the scariest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “But it’s also the best decision I’ve ever made. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”
With two more outdoor seasons ahead, Uhlin is focused on leaving his mark at K-State. His journey from Sweden to Kansas was anything but conventional, but his determination and passion have made him a standout both on and off the track.