Aleksi Ojala has been forced to abandon long journeys.
Aleksi Ojala is not excited about the mixed relay brought to the Paris Olympics, because it means the complete absence of long distances. PASI LEISMA
International athletics federation World Athletics announced in the middle of the Easter holidays, that a new sport has been added to the program of the Paris Olympics.
On August 7, a marathon-long mixed relay will be walked around the Eiffel Tower, where competitors in teams of two take turns walking a brisk ten-kilometer slice.
The change is a crushing blow to walking endurance distances, as the 50-kilometer race was last on the Olympic program two years ago in Tokyo. In the World and European Championships, races were still 35 kilometers long, but now the medley relay has completely eliminated long distances from the Olympics.
– Yesterday was a sad day for race walking, at least from my own point of view. At least I didn’t jump for joy, Aleksi Ojala grumbles to Iltalehte.
– When one’s main trip is taken away from prestigious competitions in such a situation where the opinions of the athletes were not asked, it really makes one feel sad.
Ojala, 30, who represents the Urjala Athletes, is a man of long journeys. Last year, he finished 13th in the World Championships in Eugene at 35 kilometers and 12th in the European Championships in Munich over the same distance. Of all people, he would prefer to beat himself with 50 kilometers.
According to Ojala, the information about the new trip has been met with great disappointment in sports circles, even though advance warning had been received.
– First they took a fifty and then a three-bit one. Yes, there has been quite a fuss there. Now we have to adapt to this and try what happens, says the Finn.
– I guess you have to try to move on to your twenties.
“Not good for the sport”
According to WA, the mixed relay was introduced to the Olympics because of the popularity of relays and the traditions of the Olympics.
Ojala has noticed that stunts tailored for TV viewers have grown in popularity in other sports as well.
– There is also a pair sprint in skiing. This is just in a slightly different form on the walking side, a degree longer. How can I say it… just yesterday I thought this was an April Fool’s joke. Then you’ll see what comes of it. The journey is like that, Ojala sighs.
– Twenty is an interesting and fast journey. It’s an hour and 20 minutes of sizzling. It hurts and happens, but then again, 35 and especially 50 is the royal journey of endurance. In my opinion, this is not good for the sport at least.
25 teams can participate in the mixed relay in Paris. At this stage, it is not yet known how to qualify for the games or what the rules of the competition are, for example regarding warnings.
The multiple value competition visitor hopes that more information would be received as soon as possible so that the preparation could begin. It is clear that forming teams and reaching competition limits is not the easiest task for the smallest countries in the sport.
– The Olympics are always interesting. If there’s a chance, I’ll always go to the race, but now we’ll see how those criteria go, Ojala thinks.
Aleksi Ojala still wants to go to the Olympics, even though his main trip has been taken away from the Games. PASI LEISMA