The book reveals the union’s blunt trick to Kaisa Mäkäräinen

Kaisa Mäkäräinen won six World Championship medals in her career. Jussi Saarinen

Harry Halme wood in a freshly baked book Manager the successful athletes they represent. One of Halme’s team members has already finished his racing career Kaisa Mäkäräinen.

Halme mentions that the collaboration started in 2009. At that time, Mäkäräinen was just reaching for medals and top success.

– Even at the beginning (of the collaboration), the injustice that angered me appeared. The Finnish Biathlon Union stole Kaisa’s prize money whenever it pleased, Halme reveals in the book.

– My view was that Kaisa’s prize money was used to pay the association’s other bills – and when it came time to pay the athlete, there was no money left in the account.

According to Halmee, the International Biathlon Union IBU directed the prize money to the national federations at that time.

– Kaisa asked what she could do in the situation. He wasn’t even sure if he had the right to ask for money, Halme writes.

– The Olympic Committee often helped me in these matters. They had a pinch screw if it turned out that the federations were embezzling prize money or support money. The prize money was finally paid to Kaisa.

Pj: I don’t recognize

Kalle Lähdesmäki serves as the chairman of the Finnish Biathlon Union from November 2006 to August 2010, i.e. during the time when Mäkäräinen made his way to the top of the international scene.

– From my presidency, I do not recognize that Halmee’s claim has any basis. (The book section) describes Halme’s feelings in general, not reality, Lähdesmäki acknowledges to Iltalehte.

– According to my understanding, the IBU’s prize money for Kaisa successes has been paid directly to the athlete during Kaisa’s successful season after the competition, and the Season Bonuses after the end of the season.

Lähdesmäki returned as chairman in November 2016.

– I have a clear understanding that during the time I have been involved in biathlon, Kaisa Mäkäräinen and the association had a good and functional communication, he commented.

– According to my understanding, the executive management has negotiated with Kaisa about some issues and has always found solutions.

“A little leverage”

Halme emphasizes that he described Mäkäräinen’s situation as “the closest example of a picture of the times”.

– Sometimes in the 1990s and even at the beginning of the 2000s, the time was such that the federations were at the center, not the athletes, he says to Iltalehte.

– The federations paid the athletes’ bonuses and prize money when they were suspended. I want to emphasize that they always came paid for – but sometimes I had to use a little leverage.

Bonuses and prize money were bread and butter for the athletes, but still many were silent in front of the union.

– An athlete who is not yet at the top of the world does not necessarily dare to demand things or even their money, Halme sees.

– I found it terribly unfair that the payments were often late.