Nathalie Blomqvist changed the mud of Pedersören to better training grounds. In the background is a great upheaval in the athletics business.
At first, the news was confusing.
From the small municipality of Pedersören Nathalie Blomqvist was committed to continue his career in the professional team of sports equipment manufacturer Oni.
What exactly did that mean? And how does it fit into athletics?
– This is a great thing. I expect that there will be more stables like this, Iltalehti’s expert Arto Bryggare start.
– For Nathalie Blomqvist, this is a really tough bet. I already said a year ago that he needs to take the next step. And this is the case for him. I’m really happy for him.
Blomqvist made it to the top team of On Athletics Club Europe. At the same time, his training grounds change from Ostrobothnia to eternal sunshine.
– There are many pieces here. Conditions, coaches and maintenance change. I hope that the training will be successful, Bryggare continues.
The 23-year-old endurance runner is currently training in South Africa.
– The sport of running will become even more important. It enjoys great popularity among enthusiasts, Bryggare continues.
Well over 150,000 runners would come to the various city marathons, if only the organizers would take that many participants.
For Blomqvist, all this means is that he’s starting to get paid for his running. Naturally, Oni ties it to possible records on the track and future championship successes.
In any case, from now on the Finnish runner can focus only on his sport.
– I would hope that something similar would be created in Finland as well. That would be a step in the direction I hope.
A model of cycling
Bryggare compares the OAC Europe team to organizations that have had an impact on cycling for a long time.
Cycling as a sport was never based on competitive activities organized by national federations. The professional stables were involved from the beginning.
Last year, Nathalie Blomqvist ran the seventh best statistical time in Europe at 5,000 meters. Pasi Liesimaa
Nowadays, it can be seen in the fact that in cycling even the assistant riders of the stables make a good living from their sport. In athletics, you have to be an absolute top individual in order for the cash flow to be sufficient.
– This kind of small already exists in skiing. Now they could also come to athletics.
– Now we are living in a development phase where we are moving towards this kind of stable sport. Then the organizations have to think about what their role is.
Bryggare would still leave junior sports to national sports organizations.
– We have to find new tunes in professional sports, because the money is not enough nowadays. The bigger the earning potential in a sport, the more interest it arouses.
The supremacy of Lätka
In Finland, hockey dominates the choice of sport for young talents, because it offers the best chance to reach a good income level.
– In my time, it would not have been heard of that the top talent of individual sports would have moved to hockey, Bryggare says.
– I am by no means making fun of the guy. It has built this pattern really nicely.
Arto Bryggare believes in professionalism in athletics as well. Roni Lehti
The current situation will only change if, for example, athletics could offer young people a route to a secure life.
That’s exactly what Blomqvist is currently enjoying.
– I don’t think that there will be any jump in results for Nathalie, but I hope that this development will continue. And if it continues, then we’re already at breakneck speed.
– The most important thing for him is that he now gets to take advantage of the high-altitude camp for the first time. And along with that, you should stay healthy. However, it is the most difficult equation in running sports.
In the past, Blomqvist has had to hire a coach himself and pay for camps, competition trips and maintenance there. Now they are all transferred to the employer’s responsibility.
– These offered services are a huge deal.
In recent years, the money of general athletes has come from the bottomless pockets of footwear sponsors. Now, however, Nike is withdrawing especially from field sports, and Puma doesn’t dare to invest fully either.
– According to Toivo, there will still be operators who see business in this. We are living in a time when the Diamond League gathers increasingly large numbers of spectators and athletics develops more strongly into professionalism.
However, Bryggare wants the public to focus their attention mainly only on Blomqvist’s development as a runner.
– You can’t do it in athletics Michael Jordan’s to income. Money is not the only factor why you should do sports.
– Natalie’s next goal is to get to the top of Europe. It’s not exactly an easy thing either. But it is possible. He is super talented.