Martin Ponsiluoma has family roots in Kurika.
Martin Ponsiluoma won Olympic silver. PASSI FLAME
The Olympic silver in the 15-kilometer joint start of the biathlon competition went to a Finnish-born athlete on Friday.
Representing Sweden Martin Ponsiluoma fired twice past and rose to the second highest podium. Norwegian Johannes Bö took the gold 40.3 seconds apart.
This is the first Olympic medal of Ponsiluoma’s career.
– This feels fantastic. I already felt before the race that I have a good chance, he glows.
Ponsiluoman Jyrki-father is from Kurika. The biathlete representing Sweden also has supporters in Finland.
– I want to say a huge thank you to everyone. It means a lot to me. It’s great to have fans in Sweden and Finland. It feels especially home to compete in Kontiolahti, he smiles.
Dad has taught Ponsiluoma about skiing legend Juha Miedosta.
– Greetings to Juha. My father has told me a lot of stories. A great man, Ponsiluoma chuckled last week.
Head cold
Martin Ponsiluoma (middle) has learned from his father Juha Miedo. PASSI FLAME
Ponsiluoma is the reigning world champion in sprinting. He was close to the Olympic medal in the same race, but fired twice in second place and finished sixth.
On Friday, a Finnish athlete decided that the medal would not get out of hand.
– I started to get excited at the last shooting range. I thought I had to keep my head together so I wouldn’t lose a medal like in a sprint.
– There was one bomb. I hoped the others would shoot past too.
Ponsiluoma received a warm congratulatory hug at the finish from his girlfriend, Olympic biathlon champion From Hanna Öberg.
The achievement will be celebrated in the evening at the Olympic Village.
– I eat a burger or pizza in an Olympic village. You can’t party anymore, Ponsiluoma laughs.
Norwegian Vetle Christiansen grabbed the race bronze. Tero Seppälä was the only Finn to be ninth (+2.32.7).