Simo Lipsanen’s ranking points would currently be enough for the Eugene World Championships. However, an athlete who has recovered from an ankle pain does not want to take risks because of the European Championships.
13.6. 13:12 • Updated June 13. 13:14
Holder of the Finnish record for three-jump men Simo Lipsanen is not aiming for the World Championships in Athletics in Eugene, USA in July. Long-term coach of an athlete Petri Ruotsalainen confirms the matter to Sport.
Lipsanen has not broken the World Cup earnings limit, but he would have been strong through Eugene’s international rankings. Lipsanen is currently ranked 28th, with 32 three-jumpers qualifying for the competition.
Lipsanen, who broke the Finnish record of 17.14 in 2017, has not yet opened his outer track. He jumped a promising 16.71 in his opening race during the hall season. The Swede says that Lipsanen injured her ankle in the last race of the winter, which made the spring training big again.
The Swede says that the World Cup would have come to Lipsane too early. With these prospects, Lipsanen will open his season on June 26 in the Oulu rankings.
– All stroke and jump exercises had to be restricted. The main goal has always been at the European Championships in Munich. The World Cup has already been handed over. We don’t want to risk the European Championships by aiming for the World Championships, Ruotsalainen says.
The European Championship silver medalist under the age of 23, five years ago, is trying to score good points for the European Championships in Oulu. Lipsanen is not worried about that at the moment. In the European Championship rankings, he is ranked 11th when 26 athletes are admitted to the competition.
European Championship success as a goal
The result limit for the European Championships is 16.95, which is realistic for Lipsanen.
Lipsanen has recently gotten back into jump training, but the race in Oulu is coming to the athlete soon. At the end of July, the GP competitions in Jyväskylä will have the last moments to aim for European Championship places.
– Jumping exercises have been scarce. The Oulu race is considered a good exercise. We believe that the points from that race will be enough for the European Championships. Otherwise, you have to look for competitions, even though they are hard to find in July. The intention is that in Jyväskylä, Simo would already be in a better position.
Lipsanen, 26, is already an experienced visitor. He was seventh in the 2017 European Championships. On the outdoor tracks, he has been ninth at his best in the European Championships four years ago.
– Success in the European Championships is the goal. The guy is starting to be old enough that those best years are probably now at hand. Yes, he has clearly had them in mind, the Swede reveals.