Jarkko Mehtälä feels that the video he published was worth the effort if it helps even one schoolchild.
– Strong people don’t bully.
To these words, the strongest man in Finland Jarkko “Liekki” Mehtälä ends his video greeting for schoolchildren. Haapajärvi Woimamieh’s powerlifter recently received a request from the vice-principal of KJ Ståhlberg’s school, if he would like to speak to the schoolchildren on the occasion of UN Peace Day about a topic.
– I said that of course, if I can speak. I started to talk about bullying, when it bothers school children a lot and they are terribly unable to influence global world peace. I was very happy to talk about it, says Mehtälä.
Mehtälä made a YouTube video of his speech, so that the message would also spread beyond Haapajärvi.
The subject is close to Mehtälä. The children of her acquaintances have had to face harsh things in the school world, but she also has unpleasant experiences. He says that he fell into a dark cycle of bullying in his childhood, from which there was no way out for a long time.
– If the same situation can be avoided with your own words, then in a certain way the mission of life has been fulfilled.
The muscular strongman also mentions that he bullied. That left its own scars on the big man.
– In middle school, I was on the wrong side. It started to harden himself and seek approval. There was nothing physical, but after that you realized how you hurt someone else.
Mehtälä has children of her own, the eldest of whom started school this fall. Naturally, it made Dad very nervous. Fortunately, things have gone well in the school world.
– Thank God that we have avoided serious issues. Going to school is always a moment like that when you think about how it starts. It’s probably the worst situation if your own child gets bullied.
Let’s blow into one coal
In powerlifting competitions, the strongest encourage others. In the picture on the right, Mika Törrö in Sörka’s strongest man competition. Jussi Eskola
Those who were successful in powerlifting competitions Salla Romo, Laura Koskenniemi and Mika Törrö have talked about the good team spirit of the powerlifting team in previous interviews. Mehtälä completely agrees with them and does not remember encountering a similar feeling anywhere else.
– It’s an incredible group. Not only in Finland, but also in international competitions. Wherever we go, everyone is cheered on and big men hug each other.
He tells how, despite the competition, everyone blows together and praises the competition partner. The performances of others are not sabotaged.
– In Finland, for example, in baseball you play with your mouth as best as you know how, and in football you give elbows whenever possible. But this is as gentlemanly as it gets.
Mehtälä has traveled to Scotland for the weekend for the culminating Natural Strongman Worlds strength competition with Finland’s strongest woman Salla Romo.
– We are going to fight for victory, Mehtälä states and says that he will end his racing season in a week at the Tyrnävä pot market.