Laura from Lahti, 19, has long been considered the hope of the future of Finnish competitive swimming. The former child star competed in her first adult competition when she was only 14 years old.
Three years ago, the versatile Lahtinen won the European Youth Championship bronze in his main event in the 200-meter butterfly. In the same year, he made promising performances at the World Long Course Championships held in South Korea.
After his breakthrough year, Lahtinen encountered various challenges that have slowed down the progress of the talented swimmer. During the last few months, Lahtinen has finally been able to turn his course and go to a new level as an athlete.
In the short course World Cup swimming that ended in Melbourne on Sunday, Lahtisen’s first big feat at the adult competition level was seen, when he reached the final in the 200 meter butterfly in a Finnish record time of 2:05.13. The Finn, who finished eighth in the final, has improved his record by almost one and a half seconds this season.
– The last two seasons have been difficult for him, which he has also shown on social media. I have been really happy with how Laura has succeeded this season. ‘s sports expert knows how important swimming is to him Ville Kallinen says.
Lahti has a clear area for improvement
On his side trip in the 100-meter butterfly, Lahtinen advanced to the semifinals after a repeat swim. He swam a SE of 56.88 in that, which he improved his previous record by 0.25 seconds.
However, in the evening swims, Lahtinen clearly fell short of his top speed. Kallinen says that this is where Lahtin has a clear area of improvement for the future.
Lahtinen SE 2.05,13 is an international top time. At that time, he would have been fifth in the final race.
– When you look at the final swim, there was a big drop from the heat. There was a lot of throwing in the 100m butterfly during the day. It says that Laura still has a lot to learn in regulating her energy and state of alertness, so that she can get the best hitting ability in the right place.
Kallinen doesn’t think it’s about fitness factors. He estimates that after the big record improvement in the first round, there may be a big blowout.
– The improvement is so big that it cannot be processed properly. Another scenario is that you’ve been straining for an evening swim all day. The nervous system has never rested. When the h-moment comes, the disengagement is not successful.
Lahtinen uses sports psychology to help. According to Kallinen, the solution may well be found on that side.
Kallinen sees that Lahti has the potential to grow to at least the semifinal level of the Olympics.
– If Laura gets everything right, I see that she can swim in the Olympic final in the 200-meter butterfly.
The background of Lahtinen’s current developments is the improvement of technology. His endurance capacity is at a high level.
– Technically, Laura has not been at the world’s top level. Butterfly swimming has been really bouncy for him. This season, swimming has been technically better. It is more relaxed and is always moving forward.
Hulkko can reach the Olympic final level on his side journey
The World Cup swimming went great for the entire Finnish team. In addition to Lahtinen, Finnish records were achieved by twenty-somethings Ronny Brännkärr in the 100-meter medley (52.28) and Olli Kokko In the 50 meter breaststroke (26.24). Veera Kivirinta advanced to the 50m breaststroke final where he was eighth.
Last year, at the European long course championships, he won silver in the 50-meter breaststroke From Ida Hulko promises of better things were seen in Melbourne. Hulko’s season has been broken due to illness.
Considering the starting points, Hulko’s good speed in his side trip in the 100-meter breaststroke was especially noteworthy. On that journey, he was ninth, i.e. the first swimmer to miss the final. The time 1:04.85 was the Tampere’s third best quote on a short course.
Hulko’s strongest distance, 50 meters breaststroke, is not an Olympic distance. At Satase, however, he can fight for a spot in the Olympic finals at the 2024 Olympics.
– On the best day, Ida’s swimming speed is enough for her to be an Olympic finalist in the 100-meter breaststroke. Ida needs to make his swimming more economical and gain more speed endurance. He has to withstand the rigors of the 100-meter breaststroke. It’s a bit like running 400 meters.
“Shockingly hard improvement”
According to Kallinen, the best international performance of the World Cup was the Lithuanian star Ruta Meilutyten ME-bet in the 50-meter breaststroke semi-finals (28.37). Several world records were set in the messages, which indicates the presence of several world leaders.
The sensation and the talk of the World Cup was the Cayman Islands in their twenties Jordan Crooks, who excelled in freestyle sprint distances. He became a surprise winner in the 50-meter freestyle. It was also the Cayman Islands’ first World Cup medal in swimming.
– Before these games, his world ranking was 117th, but his semi-final time is the sixth fastest of all time. He jumped more than 100 places on the all-time list, which is a shocking improvement in one season, Kallinen marvels.