The combined Olympic medalist took a stand on the hot potato of Finnish sports.
Ilkka Herola has a point. Jussi Saarinen
In recent weeks, there has been a lot of public discussion about children’s and young people’s sports and exercise activities in Finland.
Combined Olympic medalist Ilkka Herola30, took a stand on the matter on Friday in Rovaniemi, when he met the management of the Ounasvaara Ski Club.
– The culture of aiming for the top from childhood must be stopped in Finland. In Norway, it was already done 20 years ago, and the results can be seen, says Herola.
The Siilinjärvi nursery school believes that children and young people should have as many different activities as possible until about preschool age.
– It’s usually not a good idea when a 10-year-old kid declares that he’s only a hill jumper. A versatile sports background is everything, Herola comments.
– In the majority of individual sports, it is quite sufficient that specialization takes place around the age of 15. It is not worth striving for, that an athlete is at his best at the age of 15, he adds.
The man from the Puijo Skiing Club announces that the ski sports in Finland would cooperate in getting children moving.
– There should be some system where skiing, ski jumping and biathlon work together.
Spiritual growth
Ilkka Herola hugged Kristiina Vuopala, the coordinator of the Ounasvaara Ski Club, on Friday in Rovaniemi. Jussi Saarinen
The 2025–26 season was the best of Herola’s career. The crown is, of course, the two Olympic medals from Milan-Cortina.
– When you think about the previous Olympic Games, it would not have been impossible to make it in China 2022. It depends on small things, whether there will be a result.
Herola says that he did not develop much physically during the Olympics that ended.
– Rather, there was spiritual growth. Hill jumping is, of course, a sport of skill, but it requires a lot of mental strength.
