Elisa Neuvonen is a doctor and SE woman.
Elisa Neuvonen is a doctor of medicine. PASI LEISMA
Walker Elisa Neuvonen31, is one of Finland’s most highly trained athletes.
In February, Neuvonen received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Eastern Finland. His dissertation dealt with the prevention of memory disorders.
– The subject interested me even before I started studying medicine, because there have been memory disorders in my family. The dissertation started with the degree and continued from there, says Neuvonen.
The process was long. Neuvonen started his dissertation during his medical studies already in 2012. He graduated as a doctor in 2016.
However, a sports career was not left out. Neuvonen won a total of 12 SM medals for 10 and 20 kilometer walks while doing his dissertation and represented Finland at the European Championships in Berlin.
– I focused on my dissertation for a few years, half a year at a time. It was flexible. I was able to do, for example, training in the morning and evening, work during the day. It was a good option for sports.
However, the walker did not get to enjoy the title of doctor for long, because the day after the dissertation ceremony was the indoor championships.
Neuvonen took bronze in the 3,000-meter walk. After the dissertation, the situation has become easier.
– Freed up time. Now you don’t have to think about research in the evenings or weekends in addition to other work.
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Currently, Neuvonen works at the physiatry outpatient clinic at Kuopio University Hospital. He wears a doctor’s coat 23 hours a week, and focuses on sports the rest of the time.
– It’s quite good to have time to train in the morning. I’ve been training more than ever. This works when it’s not about being on call, where you need to be at work on weekends or at night.
– The employer is flexible. When there are competitions and trips, I get time off.
Did it make sense?
Neuvonen set a Finnish record at the World Championships. EPA/AOP
Neuvonen clocked a new Finnish record of 2:57.42 for the 35-kilometer walk at the World Championships in July.
In the Kaleva Games in Joensuu, he won 10 km silver with a time of 48.45. Winner Enni Nurmi would not have been reachable according to the Lappeenranta Sports Men’s walker.
The time was still annoying. Neuvonen’s record is 46.50.
– Pretty bad race. I felt like I started a little too hard. Had a little trouble with the legs. I don’t know if I was fully recovered from 35 kilometers, he referred to the World Championships.
Neuvonen hopes that he will have time to recover before the European Championships in Munich.
The trip to Germany starts on August 13. The women’s 35 km walk will be contested on Tuesday.
– If I had a choice, I wouldn’t have taken these games on such a tight schedule. I wonder if it’s worth coming here. However, I wanted to come here to represent my club and get some medals.
Elisa Neuvonen was also at the 2018 European Championships. PDO
In Munich, Neuvonen’s goal is to improve his SE result if the conditions are favorable.
The walker, on the other hand, is not going to abandon the doctor’s work. I am also interested in continuing the research.
However, there is not enough time for everything.
– It is difficult to tear into three places. At the moment, the stakes are in sports. It is good to maintain professional skills in a day job, but it also has a social life and financial security.
– The purpose is to work at a level so that sport does not suffer.
The European Championships in Munich start on August 15.