A sprinter Lotta Kemppinen would have to defend the silver medal of the European indoor track championships this winter. However, the SE woman of the trip will not be seen at the games held in Istanbul, Turkey, at the beginning of March.
– We have thought with the coach that now is a good time to get some good training in, which is why we are not competing at all in the indoor season. Now we get pull-ups and other exercises, which are quite difficult to accommodate if you have to compete, Kemppinen tells Urheilu.
Two years ago, Kemppinen ran 60 meters for EC indoor silver with a time of 7.22. During the same winter he recovered Sisko Hanhijoki the previous SE time by four hundredths at 7.16.
– It would have been nice to defend that medal, but an important summer is coming. We want to be successful even in 100 meters, so this decision was made.
Kemppinen was also in good shape last winter, when he was only one hundredth of his Finnish record short. At the World Championships in Belgrade, he reached the semi-finals.
– Expectations were high considering the summer.
However, the outdoor track season was completely missed. Kemppi had been suffering from a leg problem since May.
Kemppinen, who had rehabilitated his leg, was hopeful of participating in the European athletics championships held in August.
– The leg had time to become completely pain-free. However, it became painful again and prevented the EC trip.
– I tried to run the last training session before the European Championships. However, the leg became so painful that I almost stopped training, Kemppinen says now.
“Knock on wood”
Kemppinen, 24, immediately started a four-week transitional period, after which the amount of training has been calmly increased.
The number of runs was lower than normal in the fall. Halfway through this year, he has put on spikes and started making bets.
– At first I was able to do speed exercises, but the bigger pulling exercises and volume training were done on a bike. Now in the winter I have been able to do 150 meter strokes for a long time. There hasn’t been a need to get bets with spikes yet. Now that there has been time for that, the technique has been refined.
Kemppinen has been to the doctor several times to find out the cause of his leg pain. Now the questions have been at least partially answered.
– Now I have had a period of six months, during which it was hoped that the leg would calm down once and for all. There is a lot of in-house and external maintenance. We’re knocking on wood, but at the moment it seems good, Kemppinen says.
Finally, to the value races of outdoor tracks
In the summer of 2021, Kemppinen had to give up his Olympic place due to a problem with the plantaris (a slender heel muscle). The athlete reminds the EC medalist of a slightly special statistic. He has not yet competed in the adult series in value races on outdoor tracks.
Kemppinen is also hungry for a place at the World Championships in Budapest, which will be held from 19 to 27. August 2023.
– I have had the right to participate in both the Olympics and the European Championships, but they have been missed due to various problems. Another big goal is to run a 100m time that I know I can do. My record still has room for improvement.
Kemppinen’s record for 100 meters is 11.33 from the beginning of summer 2021 in Dessau, Germany.
– I had high expectations for last summer. It’s terribly sad that I wasn’t able to show my fitness. Hopefully this summer.
Kemppinen’s general mood has been positive, especially since the beginning of the year.
– I have been in a really happy mood. The trainings have gone really well. For a long time, it seems that you can run the way you want.
However, Kemppinen admits that the foot situation is burning in the back of his mind.
– All stones are turned over. The strain is suitable at the moment. I have never been the kind of person who wants to say that all the problems are here. You always have to be prepared, but now it seems good, says the cheerful Kemppinen.