The Finnish Snow Species Athletes have been successful in this winter’s World Cup. The situation looks promising one year before the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games.
- Lauri Vuorinen and Jasmmi Joensuu are new skiing successes.
- Suvi Minkkinen and Anni Kärävä will be a medal candidate in a year’s time at the Olympics.
- Resources are still a challenge in snow sports.
The Finnish medal balance at the Paris Olympics last summer was a round zero. After the race, the state of sports has been talked about until they get bored.
An overview of the situation of snow sports athletes a year before the Italian Winter Olympics raises a lot of medal wishes. Many Finns have raised their levels this winter and succeed in the World Cups of their own sports.
Lauri Vuorinen showed Trondheim with his great World Championship bronze medal.
Joensuu at the tip
Jasmi Joensuu is the noble world of sprint skiing, even though the final spot in the World Cup has not yet opened. Pasi Liesimaa
Before the start of the World Cup, Jasmi Joensuu led the Sprint World Cup and Kerttu Niskanen was third in the Cup overall.
The illness may ruin Iivo Niskanen’s World Championships, but after a year, Vieremä’s man is ready to eat Norwegians and pursue Olympic gold in Pertsa.
In the hill bill Severi Vieelelä He won the World Cup and grabbed third place. In addition, he has several finals in the World Cup and in the overall race he is seventh.
They are all potential medal athletes at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The grove develops
Whatever! Elian Lehdo has a year to develop in a lane-headed downfall and Super-G. EPA / AOP
On the freezer side, Anni Kärävä reached second in the World Cup in Big Aust in January. Kärävä was also involved in the X Games. The woman is at the top of her sport and will be ready to succeed in a year.
Elian Lehto was tenth in the World Cup and goes down again. Eduard Hallberg slipped 12th in the World Cup, and the man’s best mark in the World Cup is eighth.
The development curve of these two alpineers is upward.
Minkkinen is a comet
Suvi Minkkinen is a Finnish sports coach this winter. EPA / AOP
Biathlon skiers performed a great World Championship trip to Lenzerheide with Suvi Minkkinen, who won the bronze in the fast race. In addition, Minkkinen grabbed sixth place in the chase and he contracted fourth on a normal journey.
Early in the year, Minkkinen won the World Cup victory with Tero Seppälä.
Biathlon has risen a rising Norwegian coach Erik Bartlett Kulstad With the lead, again as a success and in the people’s coffee table discussions.
In the combined Ilkka Herola, after a couple of years, he has returned to the top of the world and is sixth in the World Cup.
All of the above -mentioned athletes and a few other snowman professionals have potential for the Olympic medal in a year.
How did this happen?
Toni Roponen, the top sports director of the Olympic Committee Snow Species, is very pleased with the cooperation between the snow sports. Pasi Liesimaa
Matti Heikkinen’s World Champion coached Toni Roponen sees a few different factors behind the rise in the level of snow species.
– We have been able to get enough athletes with international demanding sports who are ready to put themselves in and seek the best training conditions and the best people around.
– Finland has invested in circumstances. For example, Ruka has perhaps the best conditions in the world for Freesk athletes and snowboarders in the fall, continues Roponen, the top sports director of the Olympic Committee Snow Species.
– Levi has invested tremendously on the alpine side, including slopes, snow and lighting. It is visible. The world’s best alpineers practice in Levi in the early part of the season.
Vuokatti has an Olympic coaching center (OVK Vuokatti-Ruka), which supports all snow species.
Biathlon training focuses on Joensuu. Kumparela calculators are in Jyväskylä and cross -country skiers in Kuopio, Rovaniemi and Vuokatti.
-Sports federations are responsible for planning and coaching their sports. Of course, athletes also have important personal coaches. In snow sports, the athlete cannot survive alone. It requires support for sports federations.
No coincidence
Iivo Niskanen will be hard at the Milano-Cortina Olympics in 2026. Aop
Coincidentally, in the snow species, the top of the world does not hurt.
-There is no place in absolute top sports success. Everyday training is the most important thing. The athlete’s environment must support the fact that a top athlete is able to practice according to the standards, Roponen says.
– I am very impressed with how good the cooperation between the snow species do. It is a big factor behind the level rise.
Challenges
Although surprisingly many Finns who are at the world of snow are now successful in the World Cup, there are still challenges.
The biggest is resources. Applying for circumstances in certain species is very expensive.
– Cost structures are still on the rise. It is good that solutions are sought by building training sites in Finland, but for example, certain sports in alpine skiing must be able to practice in the summer, such as downhill.
– The number of talented athletes in sports is falling all the time. Today, the range of species is so wide. Coaching must develop – every potential must be revealed. The training system for coaching must produce more coaches on the field. We are currently investing in that, ”says Roponen.
Toward the Olympics
Ilkka Herola, a combined ace, is fighting for the top of the World Cup. Kimmo Brandt / EPA / AOP
Next winter, snow sports are fighting for Olympic medals in five different places. Each village has interesting Finnish medal candidates.
– Kumparelas, snowboarders and freesk athletes are in Livigno. There we will have 7-10 athletes, about three of whom have the potential to win the medal, Roponen says.
– Skiing and combined are in Val di Fiemen. The medal potential of these species is known. Niskas, Joensuu, Vuorinen, Herola and Krista Pärmäkoski are such.
– Biathlons are in Anterselva. Under the leadership of Minkkinen, the team has medal candidates for several days.
– The alpineists are in Bormeo and there will be about three athletes. Lehto and Hallberg are at the age that one year can do a lot in their development, Roponen recalls.
Currently, snowboarding and ski jumping has no greater loss of loss at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, which will start on February 6, 2026.