Markku Suonenvirta moves to the side.
Markku Suonenvirta is a pioneer of Finnish powerlifting. Jussi Eskola
Brought strongman competitions to Finland Markku Suonenvirta gives up organizing the Finland’s strongest man and Finland’s strongest woman competitions.
Suonenvirta has sold the competitions in a business transaction Jarkko Mehtälän To Suomen Vahvin oy, which is 70 percent owned.
Mehtälä is the reigning strongest man in Finland, but due to the deal, he will no longer seek the title in the future.
– I want the operation to continue to be open and honest, and competing with the organizer itself is not suitable for that. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy, because organizing the competition takes a lot of resources and concentration, Mehtälä said in the press release.
Suomen Vahvin oy owns the remaining 30 percent Jukka Tiittowhich earned over 2.2 million euros in earnings and capital income in 2022.
Mehtälä serves as chairman of the board and CEO of Suomen väffin oy.
– I have been able to come up with a lot of ideas and thoughts during this process, and I have a strong vision of how strongman competitions can continue to develop and grow. But I won’t be able to do this alone either, I will definitely ask others for ideas, Mehtälä said.
The title of Finland’s strongest man was contested for the first time in 1987. Suonenvirta’s perennial hornet couple, who died in 2019 Ilkka Nummisto had competed in the World’s Strongest Man competition in 1986.
Enthusiastic about the World’s Strongest Man competition, Nummisto and Suonenvirta brought the competition to Finland. Finland’s strongest woman competition was added to the program in 2000.
– Finland’s strongest man and woman competition is like one’s own child, and handing over this activity to anyone would not have been out of the question. I am extremely happy that the negotiations with Jarko led to such a fruitful outcome, Suonenvirta said in the press release.
However, Suonenvirta intends to be involved in the arrangements in the future. Suonenvirta himself won the Finland’s strongest man contest in 1989.