The Torino Winter Universiade has gotten off to a good start for Finns.
Inkki Inola won gold with ten. Petteri Kivimäki
Finland’s medal rain at the Universiade continued on Wednesday, when the para-country skier Inki Inola took the Universiade gold in the 10 kilometer freestyle competition in the visually impaired category together with his guide Reetu Inkilän with.
– The race was quite tough, and the altitude always surprises, even if you try to start at a relaxed pace so that you can tighten up towards the end, it just sours the climbs and you don’t recover in the same way as at sea level, Inola said in a press release from the Finnish Olympic Committee.
– All in all, a very good race, and a good start to this race week. I’m going to get a similar result in the butt sprint, this served as a good opening for it.
Silver for Bennert
Nico Bennert on the other hand, achieved silver in cross-country skiing in the men’s 10 km free at the Universiade.
– There was a lot of excitement before the race! We are on a high and we only came here the other day and my body was completely messed up. Then when he started skiing, it felt good and the fault got better by the lap. I didn’t expect a medal, but it was a positive surprise. The ski was absolutely fantastic – the maintenance has done a damn good job, Bennert said.
He is already looking forward to the upcoming competition trips.
– The traditional 20 kilometers has always been the main distance, so more medals to claim.
Cannon start
Finland already opened its medal account on the opening day of the Games, Tuesday, when Akseli Åvenainen took the gold in somersault. Aleksi Kaisla was ninth in the same race.
In addition Patrik Kuuttinen brought Finland a silver medal in the men’s biathlon 15 km competition. Five fines fired Kalle Loukkaanhuha was tenth in the race.
In the women’s 12.5 kilometer race Frida Achrén on the other hand, ranked 24th as the best Finn.
The Universiade is an international student multi-sport event that takes place in odd-numbered years. The International Student Sports Federation FISU (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire).
– This is a really great event and it’s great that para sports have been included in this. It’s been great getting to know athletes from other sports, Inola says about the Universiade.