The talented track and field athlete ended up representing Finland through a happy accident.
The Finnish Sports Confederation reported surprising news on Tuesday. 400 meter runner Katrina Wright has decided to represent Finland in international athletics competitions.
Wright, 19, is a dual citizen of Finland and the United States. His father has family roots in Eastern Finland.
– He is really welcome in the team. A big confirmation for the track tour, SUL’s head of coaching and training Jarkko Finni praises.
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In May, Wright ran 400 meters with a time of 52.60. This is a convincing result, because with his performance he broke the world championship limit of his age group and the Finnish record.
The result is enough for seventh place on the all-time Finnish list for adults.
Still, Wright wasn’t already on SUL’s radar.
– It was quite a coincidence on our part. Top sports coaching manager Tuomo Salonen was in contact with him for the first time, Finni says.
– In connection with the World Indoor Championships, I met familiar British managers and heard from them about Katriina’s background. I got in touch after that, Salonen opens.
In athletics, a dual citizen can freely choose which country to represent, if he has not previously represented either of his home countries in prestigious competitions or national matches. Wright had not represented Finland or the United States in those games.
– He expressed himself that he wants to represent his father’s country of birth. That’s when things started moving forward, Finni explains.
Visit to Finland
Jarkko Finni is happy that Wright will represent Finland in the future. Santtu Silvennoinen
SUL took the matter to the International Association of Athletics Federations, which accepted Wright’s request to represent Finland last week.
The runner will most likely be seen in a blue and white competition outfit in a few weeks, when the World Championships for under-20s are held from 1st to 6th. August in Columbia, Cali.
– The choices haven’t been made, but he has such a strong result that there aren’t even two words in it, says Finni.
– He is definitely excited. I am sure that he will greet the whole team with joy at the youth games.
Wright may also represent Finland in August at the adult European Championships in Munich. The Finnish women’s 4×400 meter team is locked in a place at the European Championship, but the matter is not certain yet.
A fresh name would be a confirmation for the group.
– If the women enter, she is a strong link to the EC relay team. Perhaps a personal EC place is not in sight at the moment.
The story continues after the picture.
The EC medals will be competed for in August at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. PDO
Wright attends the University of Oregon in Eugene and lives in San Diego. However, the runner is supposed to come to Finland to his father’s country of birth after the Junior World Championships.
He might even participate in the youth championships.
– I think he has never been to Finland. I’m not absolutely sure. The father’s family roots are in Eastern Finland, but he has no close relatives in Finland at the moment, says Finni.
Wright’s strongest event is the 400 meters, but according to Finn, there is potential for other events as well.
– He also has good records in the 200 and 800 meters. He runs distances on a wide scale.
Tuomo Salonen was the first to contact Wright. MIKKO HUISKO