Athletes’ scholarship applications speak volumes year after year.
Veera Kivirinta applied for a grant, but was again denied. PDO
Last Friday, the Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM) announced coaching and training grants for 169 athletes in summer sports.
The group was missing a swimmer again Veera Kivirinta28. Last year, Kiviranta, who finished fifth in the 50-meter breaststroke at the short-course European Championships and was 13th in the same distance at the long-course World Championships, sent his application in a hopeless mood.
– I already knew in advance that I wouldn’t get it. I was informed well in advance that it wouldn’t happen this year either, so it wasn’t a surprise, he says to Iltalehte.
According to Kiviranta, the announcement came from the Olympic Committee.
Grants are distributed in three categories: 20,000, 10,000 and 6,000 euros. Potential success in Olympic sports is mentioned in the criteria for the biggest pot.
Kivirinna’s main distance of 50 meters is not like that.
The criteria for the 10,000 euro grant are stated as follows: A grant of 10,000 euros can also be awarded to young athletes who are in the development phase of their sports career, who have good evidence from international competitions for adults or similar international competitions, and who are judged to be successful in future competitions for adults.
It’s easy to classify Kivirinta as a prize winner in swimming, for example, as someone who received 10,000 euros Ida Hulkkoo compared, but the assessment of the development stage is subject to interpretation. At the age of 28, he is of course no longer a promise for the future.
Hulko, who is three years younger, is separated from Kiviranta by the main distance of the 100-meter breaststroke, which is part of the Olympic program.
“Why not apply?”
Veera Kivirinta works full-time alongside her sports career. PDO
The director of the elite sports unit of the Finnish Olympic Committee Matti Heikkinen said to Iltalehti that the support money proposal emphasized the Paris Olympics, which will be held in July-August.
Kiviranta says that he understands the position, but is still surprised that the criteria talk more generally about success in value competitions.
– I wonder why it is not applied to my trip, he questions.
At the beginning of January, there was an uproar when the Association of Sports Journalists chose Hulko as Swimmer of the Year, who himself did not consider the award he received to be deserved. In his opinion, it would have belonged to the more successful Kiviranta.
The incident caused a discussion about what is the position of swimming in the Finnish sports field.
– Globally, a very respected sport, but not so much in Finland. We are such a winter sports nation, Kiviranta describes.
Hoping for a change
Kiviranta reminds that he is not talking about the setting only from his own point of view.
– I have already dealt with this situation so much. There will be no terrible feelings of discouragement, but of course it is sad for our sport. It’s not like that nowadays in terms of our sport, what’s going on there, he says and emphasizes the permanent position of the 50-meter distances in the other prestigious competitions of the sport.
– I just wish it would change for our Finnish swimmers. Yes, at some point the 50-meter distances will be included in the Olympics, but I can’t say when.
In terms of Kiviranta’s career, however, helplessly late.
– I probably won’t swim anymore at that point, or I’ll be an old battery waiting for them, he laughs.
Three-shift work
Kivirinta works during the day – sometimes even at night – as a senior constable. PDO
Earlier, Kivirinta also competed in Hulko’s favorite 100-meter breaststroke, but the life situation forced him to make choices regarding sports. The woman, who arrived in Helsinki via Oulu and Tampere, graduated as a police officer in October and works full-time in three shifts as a senior constable.
There are swimming exercises 5–6 times a week. On top of that, strength training is added, so the package must be consumed.
– People don’t always know that I sometimes do night shifts, but that’s part of the job description now, Kivirinta smiles.
From those starting points, he starts a season that includes at least two prestigious competitions, which may be the last of his swimming career. He has already had time to think about quitting for several years.
– I don’t really dare to say how long it will last. I’m turning 29 this year, so the so-called normal life is fascinating. That I have already seen this card at this point.