Karri Hietamäki was unexpectedly winning the World Championship silver. Six years later, a shock struck.
February 2001 was Karri Hietamäki shock.
Skiing stars, with whom Hietamäki had toured the games around the world and even celebrated the relay World Cup silver in 1995, were accused of doping at the home games in Lahti. Hietamäki was not in the team, but followed the development of jupaka from the outside.
– It was a shock when things started to clear up. I would not have thought that there would be such a situation in Finnish skiing, Hietamäki says now.
The former national team skier speaks cautiously on the subject, but raises a doubt.
– If all the other teams had been tested completely, how many other countries would the same thing have happened?
The doping scandal was turned into a series Lahti 2001, published in Ruudu at the end of last year. It has spoken and shook skiing circles.
– I looked through the series. It was partly fiction.
World Championship silver
Karri Hietamäki was at the Vantaa Skiing Championship watching her Sini daughter’s race. PASI LEISMA
Hietamäki, 54, was about to win the World Championship silver in the relay Harri Kirvesniemen, Jari Räsänen and Jari Isometsän with in Thunder Bay 1995. He skied the opening leg.
– The command came really unexpectedly. I was an alternate on the relay team, but I was able to join when Mika Myllylä got sick. It was great when we got a medal, Hietamäki recalls.
– Some other competitions rose to the same level in my own estimation. For example, I was winning the World Cup relay, he continues.
In his career, Hietamäki finished tenth in the 15 km World Cup race twice. The best ranking of the championships came in 1995, when he skied 14th in 30 kilometers.
Hietamäki has not lost his career, even though he missed out on individual podium places and medals.
– There was nothing left to worry about. I believe all the cards were turned over.
A new job
Karri Hietamäki represented Finland in several prestige competitions. PDO
Hietamäki skied the last World Cup race of his career in 2005. He hasn’t been in the public eye much since then.
The ex-skier currently works as a border guard at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
– I live with my family in Seinäjoki, but I’m in Vantaa a few days a week. I always go home on my days off.
Hietamäki is married to a former skier, Elina Hietamäki (nee Pienimäki) with The couple has five children.
Elina Hietamäki achieved two individual podium places in the World Cup and represented Finland in both the 2001 and 2003 World Championships. In Lahti 2001, Hietamäki was eighth in the sprint.
Now the couple is 19 years old Sine-daughter competes at the national level.
– Skis were put on when I was little. Very few other hobby options were given. It’s good that we were taken to the track, Sini laughs.
Karri’s father coached his daughter until last season. Now the young woman is piloting herself.
Sini Hietamäki experienced a bad setback in September, when she fell on roller skis.
– I broke my ankle during the most important training period, so a lot of good training weeks were wasted. I haven’t competed terribly this year, he laments.
Stories
Sini Hietamäki aims for youth championship success. PASI LEISMA
Sini Hietamäki was 41st in the 20 km traditional race at the Vantaa National Ski Championships on Saturday. In the future, he is aiming for at least youth championship medals.
Hietamäki’s best ranking in the youth championships is ninth.
– I don’t want to think further, because apparently anything can happen. It would be nice to manage and compete so that skiing feels good.
At least there are enough inspiring stories at home.
– Some of it already memorized, Sini laughs.