Joonas Rinne did not make it to the World Championships in Athletics. However, the invitation went to Munich.
When the World Athletics Championships were held in July in Eugene, USA, the Finnish champion Joonas Rinne watched the media on TV in my home country.
Rinne did not break the World Championship limits in the 800 and 1,500 meter races. He also didn’t get enough points in the ranking system.
You get points for the ranking according to the ranking and the result. The harder the competition, the more points.
– At the start of the season, Eugene was thinking about it. It would have been nice to join. I just watched the start on TV, Rinne says now.
Rinne took during the Games On his Tiktok account reacts to the criticism that Finland received for its historically large team of 36 athletes.
The Finnish champion wrote that he had heard too much “crying” about the fact that athletes who are not sure medal favorites should not be sent to the Games.
– It is misleading when the group talks about race tourists. It’s definitely not an all-play tournament. I would have loved to go there too, if I had been able to. It just wasn’t enough, the runner says now.
– The athletes at the World Championships are among the best athletes in the world. It’s really great that in Finland you can find such tough players in so many sports. Such a big team is a great thing.
Believed in the next place
Joonas Rinne wants to be in the EC semi-finals. Jussi Saarinen
Rinne believes that he could have qualified for the World Championships. In the 1,500 meters, 3:37.43 would have been enough for a place in the semi-finals, while the Finn’s own record was 3:38.56 last year.
In the 800 meters, the last place in the time comparison came with a result of 1:45.94. Last year’s slope record was also 1:45.96.
– An extension would have been possible. When I didn’t get a place in the competition, I didn’t regret it. It gave me confidence thinking about the European Championships.
There is nothing to worry about. Rinne admits that the WC place was quite far away.
– It was partly influenced by the fact that we started the season with 1,500 meters and 800 meters in mind. If I had just chosen the second one right away, it would have been easier to collect points. For 1,500 meters, points would have been more accessible.
– There were a couple of point races at 1,500 meters that went wrong. That seals it.
To the semi-finals
Joonas Rinne praises Finland’s big competition teams. Jussi Saarinen
Rinne will represent Finland at the European Championships in Munich in the 800 meters. He got in through the ranking, because the result limit of 1.45.90 is barely broken.
The Finn ran his 800m indoor track record of 1:49.98 in the hall season. 1:46.36 has gone outside this season.
– The idea is to send a place in the semi-finals to Munich. Only eight will make it to the finals, so it would be a pretty tough goal.
On Friday, Rinne won the 1,500-meter Finnish championship from the Kaleva Games in Joensuu. 800 meters is still this season’s strongest event.
The European Championships in Munich will be held from 15 to 21 August.