Wilma Murto was suddenly added to the Whatsapp group.
Wilma Murto found her credit officer through Alexander Stubb. Roni Lehti
President Alexander Stubb and the pole vault star have known each other for years. The situation could be described as exceptional, when the president of the republic is in regular contact with the top athletes in the country, including Murto.
A novelty book about the life of pole vaulter Murro Above all – Wilma Murto (Tami) sheds light on how it all started. Hippo Taatilan President Stubb has also been interviewed for the book he wrote.
The contact started already in 2017. At the time, Murto suffered from a nasty heel injury, the cause of which was not clear even from the MRIs. Stubb had also read about it in the newspapers.
In the midst of uncertainty, one day Wilma decided to answer a call from an unknown number. “Well Stubbin’s Alex here, Hello [––] do you have a moment?” [––] Wilma barely had time to think why on earth a well-known national politician called me, when she already noticed that the minister had joined her in a common Whatsapp group, the third member of which was physiotherapist Jukka Kangas.
Model performance by Alex. He started a Whatsapp group, introduced us to each other, wished us a good day and left. The whole process took maybe three minutes.
Physiotherapist Jukka Kangas and Murto started a collaboration whose value was not only visible on the physical side. The fabric also became a significant spiritual support for the athlete.
Among other things, Kangas has heard Murro’s accounts before the World Championships in Budapest, when Murro’s motivation for jumping was at rock bottom.
“Come on”
President Stubb is a familiar sight in sports stands. Jussi Saarinen
Murto, hurdler Top Raitanen and a mortar thrower Silja Kosonen received a lunch invitation from President Alexander Stubb and his spouse From Suzanne Innes-Stubb To the state guest house on July 30, 2024.
The Paris Olympics had just started, but the presidential couple later invited those competing for lunch before leaving for Paris.
“Alex is already a familiar guy to me and Topi. Yes, Silja had met Alex before, but I think Silja was a little further out of his comfort zone,” Murto smiles. [––] He is the same familiar Alex as president as before. Yes, I think I asked after the inauguration if the industry should be called up now, and Alex answered that don’t bother.”
“Basically, it was like any home visit, but the host of the meeting happened to be the president of the republic.” Alex gave us a tour of the inside and outside of the house. [––] Otherwise, it felt like a home visit, except that the security guards were waiting outside and there was a cook and a waiter on duty in the house.”
“Even weekly”
In the fall of 2022, Stubb had already established a WhatsApp group called European Champions, where members were exchanged.
The president says in the book that he has been in contact with dozens of athletes over the years. He says he asks for information, encourages and offers help.
“Topi Raitanen is close in the same way as Wilma. Then there is Ristomatti Hakola, Iivo Niskanen, a couple of others. We communicate with all of them regularly, even weekly.”
The italicized passages are quotes from Hippo Taatila’s book Yli kainn – Wilma Murto (Tami).