The close circle of Nummela, who is known as a running coach, confirmed the matter to Helsingin Sanomat.
Ari Nummela was a pioneer of Finnish endurance sports. Kalle Parkkinen
Running coach Ari Nummela is dead, reports Helsingin sanomat newspaper. Nummela’s close circle confirmed the sad news to HS.
Nummela died at the age of 61. He had terminal cancer and passed away on December 5th according to HS.
By education, he was a doctor of sports science. Nummela worked as a leading expert at the elite sports institute Kihu. In his work, he was developing Finnish endurance sports research and coaching.
He is considered a pioneer of Finnish endurance sports.
Nummela’s most famous coach was an all-around athlete Eemil Helander. Helander won silver at the under-23 European Championship last summer in Espoo with 5,000 meters.
Helander dedicated the EC medal to his coach Nummela, who watched the race in the stands of the Leppävaara sports field.
– A great achievement for us together. We have a very long cooperation with Ari. This was an indication of the long-term work we have done, Helander said emotionally to Iltalehti.