Olympic javelin champion and world champion Keshorn Walcott and a few other international stars withdrew from the Midsummer Games in Kuortane.
The reigning javelin world champion by Keshorn Walcott was supposed to be the main attraction of Kuortanene’s traditional Midsummer Games, but the 2012 Olympic champion canceled his participation.
– It’s unfortunate from the point of view of all parties. I could not foresee that Donald Trump goes to war with the Iranians. That’s why this hits me, commented Walcott’s competition manager Tero Heiska.
Walcott will compete in the Diamond League competition in Doha on Friday.
Qatar’s mittel was supposed to be held on May 8, but it was moved to Midsummer’s Eve due to the unrest in the Persian Gulf. The USA started its war of aggression against Iran at the end of February 2026.
Peeking in Kuortane
US President Donald Trump is involved in many things. PDO
Trinidad and Tobago’s javelin competed last week in the Lahti gp meet and then trained in Kuortane. Less than a week ago, he decided to compete on Midsummer’s Day instead of Kuortane in Doha.
– I had long hoped that Doha would not be able to hold the Diamond League competition. Recently, we received information that all the arrangements are in order in Qatar and it is safe to compete there. It’s very sad for Kuortanene, Heiska states.
The experienced manager has previously worked as the person responsible for athlete contracts in Kuortanee’s midsummer competition.
– There are quite a few men’s javelin competitions in the Diamond League program. Keshorn needs to collect points from those competitions in order to get to the Diamond League finals in Brussels.
On Wednesday, Walcott packed his belongings and first traveled from Kuortane to Helsinki-Vantaa. From the main airport of the kingdom, the journey continued along the air bridge to Copenhagen. The man had a connecting flight from the Danish capital to Doha.
For safety reasons, Finnair does not yet fly from Helsinki-Vantaa to the Persian Gulf.
Big inflation
Just last week, Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott competed in Finland. Photo from Lahti gp. Pasi Liesimaa
Along with Walcott, the Ukrainian winner of the Lahti gp made the people of Kuorta happy Artur Felfner. He will also compete in the Diamond League on Friday.
– The transfer of the Doha competition made it difficult to acquire athletes for the Kuortane competition. Men’s pole was our priority sport. Many athletes wondered for a long time whether the Doha race would take place. It was challenging from the point of view of the Finnish competition organizer, states the person in charge of athlete contracts for the competition in Kuortanee Arttu Salonen.
With the absence of two top names, the men’s javelin race was reduced to six athletes. They are included Oliver Helander, Top Parviainen, Topias Laine, Taneli Juutinena Pole who at his best managed 85 meters Dawid Wegner and a 75-meter Latvian Martins Kaudze.
– When Doha decided to hold the competition, the organizers of the gold series event in Hengelo, Holland on Sunday, left out the men’s javelin and replaced it with the men’s discus. Men’s puck is another big sport here in Kuortane, Salonen explains.
The world’s best Finnish-speaking track and field athlete Daniel Ståhl is by far the strongest name of the Kuortanene Games. Ståhl has not received any decent opponents in South Ostrobothnia. There are only five athletes in men’s discus.
– The closer the cancellations get, the harder it is to get replacements.
Kuortanene’s competition is bronze level, which means it is fourth on the highest series ladder.
Bad time
The main attraction of the Kuortanene Games, Daniel Ståhl, Silja Kosonen and Emilia Kangas signed autographs and posed for pictures on Thursday at the edge of Lake Kuortaneen. Jussi Saarinen
Women’s shot put is not in the Diamond League’s program, and it is not often seen even in gold series competitions.
Flying Finnish stars hang out in Kuortane Silja Kosonen and Krista Tervobut, for example, the world’s number one thrower who used to tour Finland diligently Camryn Rogers is not included. Neither does any tough American.
After the Finnish duo, the USA who threw almost 75 meters in 2023 has the hardest statistical result Jillian Shippee.
– At the moment, there are not too many North American athletes in Europe, and this can be seen especially in the women’s track and field, says Salonen and refers to the US university championships held last week.
Midsummer has often been an opportune moment for Kuortanene’s competition, because the world has had very few athletics events during the Midsummer weekend.
Now the situation is different.
In addition to the Doha Diamond League and the Dutch Gold Series, there will be both silver and bronze series competitions in Germany this weekend.
– Now the timing is anything but favorable. In addition to the above-mentioned competitions, a few countries have national championships.
Was the budget reserved for athlete recruitment not used?
– It may very well be. I would rather use it than not use it, Salonen replies.
How much is the athlete budget?
– I can’t say the exact numbers, but it’s about a five-figure sum.