The Finnish national swimming team is currently going through important training weeks in preparation for the Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, in mid-December.
Competed in his first adult World Championships when he was only 16 years old Laura Lahtinen is now three years later one of the heroes of the national team.
Lahtinen, 19, who represents Helsinki’s Simmi, surprised even himself by swimming at the Berlin World Cup over the weekend in the 100 and 200 meter butterfly, setting new short course Finnish records.
– I felt that I really showed my own skills in the competition performance. There were technically successful performances, which led to the fact that the times were also really good, Lahtinen is happy.
The best swims of my career in the middle of a hard training session give me hope that there could be even better things to come.
– It gives a lot of self-confidence and motivation to train for the World Championships. I can say out loud that the goal is the final and I can believe that it is possible, says Lahtinen.
Lahtinen had to miss last Saturday’s races due to food poisoning, and was not sure if he would be able to place himself on the stands at all on Sunday. However, the energy levels quickly returned to normal and Lahtinen improved the Finnish record. The experience was instructive.
– You can’t take that preparation as a model, but it taught me that I can perhaps read my own body better and rest. However, it is better not to get sick, but to just rest. If I had competed on Saturday, I might not have had such a good performance on Sunday.
Difficulties taught
In his breakthrough season in 2019, Lahtinen broke several Finnish records. It was followed by a couple of more difficult years, overshadowed by health problems. A little over a year ago, Lahtinen was diagnosed with endometriosis, which causes, for example, menstrual pains.
This autumn’s results also show that the biggest health problems have already been solved. However, Lahtinen is still looking for answers to one mysterious problem. The young swimmer has been plagued by thigh muscle cramps for several years.
– My thighs are being examined because the cramps have worsened. A muscle sample was taken from my thigh, and now we will find out why the creatine kinase in my body rises above the reference value.
Lahtinen says that doctors have already been able to rule out the most serious possible causes of cramps. There are still question marks in the air.
– I can only take care of hydration and regular eating. If you get cramps, you have to stop working on those muscles until then. I have learned to work with that, says Lahtinen.
As a 19-year-old athlete, Lahtinen has already experienced a lot. There are things he’s learned the hard way along the way.
– I would like to tell my 16-year-old self that believe in yourself and your own knowledge, remember to stick to your own opinion and trust that the result will come. During the next years, I will work really hard for the results, and if I can just rest, the results will come, says Lahtinen.
Returning to the high school bench brought rhythm
The matriculant of Mäkelänrinne sports high school admits that combining schooling and elite sports has not always been easy.
Last year, fitting studies into everyday life was especially difficult when Lahtinen competed in the professional swimming league ISL. Lahtinen realized that both studies and sports suffered due to the absences.
The 2022 ISL season was completely canceled due to the war started by Russia in Ukraine. The Russian-Ukrainian billionaire who founded and financed the league, Konstantin Grigorishinmoney flows stopped after Russia attacked Ukraine.
– I learn better when I attend lessons, but in recent years there has been a lot left to do at home. It has taken time away from swimming and recovery. Now I’ve got a better rhythm. The grades have also improved, Lahtinen says.
Lahtinen does his second practice of the day now a little later in the afternoon, so that he can attend lessons. The study counselor, the dual career coach and the rest of the swimmer’s coaching team have helped with the new rhythm.
Lahtinen not only changed his training rhythm, but also worked hard to develop his butterfly technique. The change burdened both body and mind.
The hard work paid off, because now the swimming goes better than in the past. The tough autumn training camp in Malaga raised the results even more. The next camp is already at the beginning of December in Australia, where Lahtinen plans to finalize his World Cup fitness with special care.
– It has been typical for me that I have pulled my body so tight that I haven’t been able to get in top shape. If I train too hard, I may not sensitize my body. Now I try to focus on pushing hard, but I also let my body rest, Lahtinen plans.
The time difference to Melbourne is eight hours, which is why we start the trip well in advance.
– It would be nice if the World Championships were a little closer, but on the other hand, it’s really cool to get to Australia, because I’ve never been there.
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