The sports year 2022 has already been great for Finns at this point, writes Iltalehti’s sports editor Timo Kunnari.
Olympic gold! Iivo Niskanen won a total of three medals on the tracks in Beijing. In 2022, you won’t find a tougher athlete in Finland. AOP / USA TODAY Sports
Sorry, gravel road virtuosos and motorsport people. The number one athlete of 2022 is cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen.
The basis is February’s Olympic gold in the 15-kilometer traditional cross-country time trial. If that’s not enough, let’s mention that Kainuu’s bull won a total of three medals in Beijing.
It’s useless to talk about it more than that, it’s a mess.
Kalle Rovanperä’s wonderful and historic world rally championship as the youngest driver of all time elevates the driver to the second best athlete in the country this year.
The Lion team won the first Olympic gold in Finland’s history and the world championship in May at the home games. The team coached by Jukka Jalonen therefore gets third place on the list.
All in all, the year 2022, which is coming to an end, has been successful in domestic sports. Olympic victories, Paralympic victories, world championships and European championships, Stanley Cup winners.
There are still a few months left in the year, and Robert Helenius, among others, will rise to the big ring during the rest of the year. So there is still a sports snack available.
The following athletes get on the signatory’s top ten list, i.e. the “absolute truth list”. Winning is at the center of everything in professional sports – it decided the top places.
The level of the sports year is characterized by the fact that, among other things, European Championship medalist Lassi Etelätalo cannot participate now.
1. Iivo Niskanen
Another Olympic victory. Iivo took a total of three medals from China. The victory in the 15 km race and the bronze in the combined race were the balance of the individual races. In addition, Vieremä Härkä took silver in the pair sprint together with Joni Mäki.
Niskanen is the best male skier in the world. Easy choice for number one.
2. Kalle Rovanperä
The worldwide scepter of the rally is once again firmly in Northern Europe. Kalle Rovanperä (right) won the world championship and Estonia’s Ott Tänak is second in the World Championship. The dominance of the French is now just a memory. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä crushed his opponent in the World Rally Championship in the 2022 season. The result was the world championship as the youngest driver of all time. The championship was decided early Sunday morning in New Zealand.
The man from Central Finland is only 22 years old, so there are more titles to come. Rovanperä is the best young athlete in this country.
Jonne Halttunen works as the master’s map reader.
3. Lions
Finland’s most followed team won Olympic gold in February. In the past, the national men’s ice hockey team has not been able to win at the Olympics. The puck train didn’t stop at the Beijing station, but Leijonat was again champion at the World Championships in May.
The value of the achievement is increased by the fact that the World Championship gold came on home ground. Leijonat showed dominance in the winter value tournaments.
4. Topi Raitanen
Many eyes in Finland turned wet when Topi Raitanen sensationally won the European Championship gold in Munich in the 3000 meter hurdles with a time of 8:21.80.
Raitanen decided the championship with a wonderful finish, how else. Finland’s previous prestigious medal for running distances was from 2006.
5. Wilma Murto
Salon Vilppa’s Wilma Murto won European pole vault gold in Munich. PASI LEISMA
Murto won the women’s pole vault European championship at the Munich stadium. The native of Turku improved the Finnish record three times and finally took the historic victory with a score of 485.
Murto is the best female athlete of the year, narrowly ahead of Kerttu Niska.
6. Kerttu Niskanen
“Kepa” took silver in Beijing with ten and bronze in a fierce 30 km distance. A great comeback to the sharpest tip of skiing. It should be mentioned that Finland won a total of eight medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics, six of which came from cross-country skiing.
The Niskas brought five of Finland’s six cross-country medals, four of which were personal. The Finnish sports scene would be very quiet without the Niskaste sisters.
7. Matti Suur-Hamari
Matti Suur-Hamari won two medals from the Paralympics. MAURI RATILAINEN / AOP
One of the great fighters of the sports year is 35-year-old Matti Suur-Hamari. The man won gold in snowboard cross at the Beijing Paralympics, and in addition, he won silver in his second sport, banked slalom.
Career ended last season.
8. Mikko Rantanen
The smiling giant of the rising stars played a huge role when the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in June. Rantanen is a man of big games – in 20 spring playoff games, the forward scored 25 power points.
The TPS breeder belongs to a small group of the best attackers in the world.
9. Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen played beautiful and effective basketball at the European Championships and single-handedly took Finland to the top eight. It was the first time in 55 years that Finland was among the top eight at the EC level.
Finland’s lone NBA player scored the most points in the EC tournament.
Markkanen is a great role model for young athletes. Markkanen may still perform new magic tricks in Jazz’s jersey during the fall.
10. Kristiina Mäkelä
Santa laughed when Kristiina Mäkelä jumped to the European Championship silver. PASI LEISMA
Mäkelä won European triple jump silver in Munich. Loikkaaja’s first career medal came with a new Finnish record of 14.64. Mäkelä broke the record held by Senni Salminen by one centimeter.
