Seventh-ranked Maria Huntington announced on Thursday that she will temporarily put her elite sports career on hiatus. The biggest fire towards the species had faded.
Maria Huntington represented Finland at the Tokyo Olympics. Pasi Liesimaa
– It was quite surprising, Arto Bryggare states of Maria Huntington of the interim solution.
However, Iltalehti’s athletics expert understands the 26-year-old athlete’s decision.
– Sport is hard, and there are sometimes setbacks. You have to be passionate about it. If it is not there, then it is not worth playing sports. Then you should do something else.
According to Bryggare, the match is such a demanding sport that you can’t take care of your training with everything else in the half-lights if you want to be on top of the world.
– There must be motivation for training. If it isn’t, then it’s pointless to lie to yourself.
Huntington would have had excellent chances to reach next summer’s Olympics and make a strong result there. However, Bryggare reminds us that sport is not the whole of life.
– In such matters, you should also think about, for example, the family. If there is constant bad mood and sadness, then it is not easy for those closest to you either.
Good thing?
Bryggare sees it as a good thing that Huntington did not announce his retirement.
– There are many athletes in the world who have taken a break from competing, but have kept themselves in good shape. It’s pretty easy to come back if you’re in good shape. A break can even be good for the body and psyche, Bryggare knows.
– Hopefully Huntington will keep himself in shape and even develop the aerobic side, which is not his strength. You could now do it in peace, when there is no competitive pressure.
Good aerobic fitness is also important for the competitor in the sense that it prevents injuries. Huntington has been plagued by injuries in recent years.
Borders far away
For his age, the Tampere native would still have his best years ahead of him.
– Maria’s career is very short. He hasn’t played competitive sports since he was 11 years old in a hundred glasses. Compared to that, he has already achieved a lot.
According to Bryggare, Huntington has the potential to be significantly better than what was seen.
– I don’t think Huntington has yet even touched a stage where you train hard at the top. His limits are far from where his results have been.
For example, 800 meters would be enough to rock.
– It won’t happen in a day, or even in a year. It requires hard work. Likewise, the throws are weak, but with hard work they could also be improved.
However, in terms of his characteristics, Huntington is an excellent fighter.
– He is explosive, a very good hurdler and long jumps brilliantly, Bryggare praises.
Hard competition
Huntington’s sideline leaves a huge hole on Finland’s match map, but there are other female authors as well.
– Saga Vanninen is currently the number one name in Finland. He is a wildly tough promise.
The only 20-year-old talent is, like Huntington, a Tampere Pyrinnö athlete.
– I hope that Vanninen’s appearance on the stage was not an additional boost to Huntington’s decision, because additional competition is always a good thing for fierce competitors, Bryggare reflects.
In addition to Vannine, he also highlights by Miia Sillman28, the third competitor from Tampere who won gold at the Universiade in 2019.
– In Tampere, there is fierce competition among the contestants. Let’s hope that Huntington’s spark will be rekindled, Bryggare concludes.