Skier Joni Mäki fell ill three times during the summer of 2022.
In May, a skier succumbed to the coronavirus Joni Mäen through the protective wall. At the end of Midsummer, the usual flu hit. In September, on the eve of the SC roller skiing competitions, the man fell into bed again with a cold.
– There were air bubbles here and there and I had to fasten my seat belt, Mäki describes.
Three different respiratory diseases in five months is a harsh setback for an endurance athlete.
– Too much for one summer. No common denominator for the diseases has been found, but partly there has been bad weather. It felt like everyone got a crown in May.
Mäki was not able to participate in any national team camp during the summer. He missed dozens of quality training days.
– It always took a week to two when recovering from one disease.
The most mentally draining was the most recent health problem.
– I was waiting for the roller skating competition and I was in good shape. It would have been sweet to see what it was enough for at that moment, says Mäki.
– The latest illness clearly caused a setback. It takes time to get back into the rhythm, he continues.
Solace from last season
– At the moment, my health situation is quite good, commented Joni Mäki on Wednesday in Helsinki at the press conference of the Finnish Ski Federation. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
On Thursday, the man from Pyhäjärvi Pohti Ski Team left for the national team’s camp trip to Italy on the Val Senales glacier.
– I’m excited to see what’s to come. The end of autumn and the beginning of winter must be successful enough for the competition season to start moving in the right direction.
The first real test is the Ruka World Cup at the end of November.
– I don’t expect terrible results from the beginning of winter. If the results improve during the season, then let’s aim for the best shape for February.
In February-March, the Planica World Championships are on the program. From the 2021 World Championships in Oberstdorf and the 2022 Chinese Olympic Games, Mäki has returned to his homeland as a medalist in the pair relay.
The events of last winter provide a little comfort in the midst of the cycle of illness. Mäki got sick with a bad flu in December, but he got the blow of his life in the five ring races.
Three managers
Joni Mäki (left) and Ristomatti Hakola won the 2021 World Championship silver in the free pair relay. PASI LEISMA
Joni Mäki (left) and Iivo Niskanen won the traditional pair relay Olympic silver in 2022. PASI LEISMA
The training theme of the healthy days of the basic training season 2022 has been push and muscle endurance. The start of the Mäki bread sprint at the World Cup is traditional, so the push has been done on a roller mat, a roller track and on the climbs of Vuokatti’s hazards.
– When the training can be transferred to the snow, the straight push moves forward better than before.
For Mäe, the best thing about sports in the summer of 2022 was a deal with three ladies. Sanna Putta, Heli Vepsäläinen and Johanna Pelttari act as the skier’s manager.
– A few new partners have already arrived, Mäki says and points to the logo on his sleeve.