The ten-year-old Tarmo Savola earns income by picking berries, among other things.
- In order to receive an athlete grant, success must have already been accumulated.
- The daily life of athletes trying to break through can be brutal.
- Tarmo Savola sells berries and even feels it is his duty to deliver the fruits of the forest to familiar, more grown-up people.
A decathlete Tarmo Savolan, 22, summer has been challenging. Last year’s decathlon silver medalist at the Kaleva Games has been on the sidelines all summer due to hamstring problems that started in the winter.
– Before that, the autumn and winter training went really well. I was in better shape than ever before. At the end of January, just before the WC Indoor Games, I started to feel symptoms in my hind legs.
Savola’s leg was examined, but the cause of the symptoms was not found.
– There was no tear in the thigh, and nothing else visible. The surgeon finally came to the conclusion that it is hamstring syndrome.
– He said that the situation may improve quickly or it may take longer, it was difficult to predict the future.
Although Savola was allowed to train in pain, the pain has kept him away from competitions all summer. The last shadow over the passing of the summer season was cast by the severe corona infection that struck in May.
– I had a fever of 39 degrees for a week and a half. After that, the body was still in zero mode for more than a month, so there was no need to even think about training.
When asked how the young athlete has coped with the challenging time mentally, Savola thinks about it carefully.
– There have been some difficult days, because there has been no certainty about the duration of the leg problem, and Korona made an addition. I’ve still thought I’ll do what I can. More is not possible.
– I have also thought that although sport is a huge part of my life, there is more to it, such as family and other loved ones and of course my coach Mika Vakkurin a team revolving around management. In addition, moving in nature is a great source of strength for me.
As you can see from the shirt, Tarmo Savola has managed to get sponsors. Tom Olli
For the new millennium
At the moment, Corona has been defeated and training can be done almost normally. The leg problem has also improved favorably. The leg will be re-examined at the end of this month.
– If the situation requires measures, a thigh operation will be performed. If it comes to that, the end of summer is the best time. After that, the way opens directly to the new training season.
Savola, who has only been fully focused on the decathlon for a couple of years, is a talent. He achieved his record of 7,595 points last year. Thinking about the competitions, it was lucky for him that the student Universiade planned to be held in China this year was postponed to next year due to the corona situation.
– The competitions are next year’s main goal. Another goal is to break my big brother Elmo a record 7,956 points and get into the 8,000 point club at the same time. In the long term, the 2024 Paris Olympics are on the mind.
– Elmo is also a very important training partner for me. At the same time, we can advise, guide and cheer each other on.
The young competitor says that during the training season he got a new grip, especially in the throwing sports, for example in the javelin throw it has been helpful Tero Pitkämäki.
– All throwing sports are in record condition. However, I don’t think it’s important to participate in some of them anymore this season, because the overall match is the only goal. If everything goes well, breaking the above-mentioned 8,000 points next year is completely realistic.
Late growth
Savola’s prerequisites for becoming a competitor only became concrete when he came of age, although his talent in different sports was already evident from a young age.
– My height growth was very significant. In the last five years, I have grown eighteen centimeters. It became six two years ago in the army.
– Because the height only came so late, it has affected the sport. Now the situation is good, and the frames are in order, says the 188-centimeter Savola.
Over the years, he has received important training help from another Lappajärvi breed, a multiple medalist in wrestling championships From Petra Olli.
– He was of great importance right before my growth spurt. I often traveled with Petra to Kuortane to practice wrestling.
– Petra was also a support and cheerleader, because that time was challenging when waiting for growth. At the same time, I gained a lot of self-confidence and a really good workout.
Savola also has plenty of Ostrobothnian humor about it.
– With Petra’s teachings, we have been taught to bend the neck, which is never harmful in any situation.
Twisting is already familiar to Tarmo from the family circle, as he is the youngest of a family of nine children.
– I’m also the smartest. I remember how when I was younger, Elmo, who was five years older than me, often tried to catch me and failed. This is where the survival instinct kicked in, it was healthier for me to run away, Savola laughs.
Tarmo Savola won silver in the Kaleva Games organized in Tampere in 2021. Jussi Saarinen/AOP
On a tight budget
Tarmo, who moved from Veikoi in Lappajärvi to the colors of Vasa Iddrottsällskap last fall, is studying accounting and finance at the University of Vaasa. A young athlete’s days also consist of earning money.
– I think that you have to do what you can, you can’t just wait for things to work out. In this light, I have tried to find vital sponsors. In that field, I contacted almost a triple-digit number of companies last fall.
– Despite its challenges, this kind of operation has been very rewarding. It has been eye-opening to have conversations with business leaders. At the same time, I have gained an important insight into how I can help them as an athlete.
Savola does not fall under the scope of grants from the Ministry of Education and Culture. When asked if Savola thinks the arrangement is fair, he does not want to comment on it.
– I don’t take any position on it. If it is decided to grant me a grant someday, I will of course gladly accept it.
Athlete grants have been discussed in Finland since Iltalehti pointed out that cross-country skiers Krista Pärmäkoski and Kerttu Niskanen have applied for and received a grant of 20,000 euros, even though they earn up to six-figure sums for their companies. The grants are intended for athletes earning less than 80,000 euros per year to cover living expenses.
The person from Eteläpohja has been used to getting money since he was young. He also recently published an announcement on Facebook, where he says that he is selling the blueberries he has collected.
– I have collected lingonberries and blueberries and fished for years. The merits obtained in this way have been very important to the coffers of the student athlete. For work, I have also done occasional teacher substitutes in elementary school in Vaasa.
Although the top athlete sells berries on social media, Savola has not encountered any problems.
– On the contrary, I have received good feedback about it. Over the years, I have accumulated many regular customers, and in the same way I feel it is my duty to deliver the berries to a few more grown-up people.
He says that the attitude towards work and life comes from home.
– Father and mother have always been entrepreneurs, so in our family we have learned to work and do things ourselves. I feel that the lessons learned through this are also reflected in my attitude towards sports, I want to do everything as well as possible and with a sense of purpose.