The skiing star tells IS that the spring news was a huge shock to him personally.
Riitta-Liisa Lassila recalls the events of a difficult year in an interview with IS. Atte Kajova/AOP
Riitta-Liisa Lassila (formerly Roponen) tells Ilta-Sanom his divorce Toni from Ropose had been a very hard piece for him.
The couple announced their separation from their long marriage in April at Toni Ropose’s initiative.
– The separation came as a surprise to me and caused a shock. I collapsed because I had imagined our relationship to last forever. I was broken by grief for a long time because I lost not only my husband but also my best friend and my rock, Riitta-Liisa Lassila tells Ilta-Sanom.
Lassila says in the interview that recovery took a long time.
– In the spring, I actually just cried and cried.
The difference also affected skiing. During the first months, the love for the sport died completely, and Lassilan did not feel like going to the track at all. However, he took part in the Ylläs–Levi ski competition just a couple of weeks after the news of the breakup, even though sadness still weighed on his mind.
– I hadn’t eaten, slept or trained for several weeks, so there was enough to do that I survived the 70 kilometers of the race.
Lassila says that time has made her feel easier. The love for skiing has been found again in December. About her relationship situation, 47-year-old Lassila says that she is currently single and that everything is fine.
In her career, Lassila has won one Olympic bronze and seven World Cup medals, three of which are gold. There are two World Cup competition wins.
The two were together for more than 20 years. The paths crossed at the beginning of the 2000s, when Riitta-Liisa joined the national team coaching group led by Toni. The feelings deepened gradually and eventually blossomed into love.
After the divorce, Riitta-Liisa Roponen changed her last name back to her maiden name Lassila.
The marriage ended at Toni Ropose’s initiative. PASI LEISMA