Wilma Murto has enjoyed the role of a spectator at the European Youth Championships in Espoo. The return of the youngest ever Olympic medalist in women’s pole vault has made a big impression on the European champion.
ESPOO. Two-time European pole vault champion Wilma Murto has been able to enjoy the sport this week as a spectator. The star jumper, who is taking a short competition break, watched the under-23 women’s pole vault from a close distance on Saturday.
France won the competition Marie-Julie Bonnin after beating Belgium in a tough race Elien Vekemans With a 450 jump. Murto participated strongly, as the jumpers made great crossings and few falls.
– It’s nice to follow these. There are athletes here at really different stages. There are those for whom this is the star moment of their career.
Then there are those athletes who are only going upwards in their careers. Murto recognizes the challenge.
– This will become a problem for me in a couple of years, Murto laughs in his familiar style.
No age group medal
Murto, who said goodbye to the youth competitions four years ago, has won medals in the under-20 category at both the European Championship and the World Championship level.
For some, the under-23 European Championships can be blessed twice and for some only once. When Murro had the only seam in 2019, he was going through a difficult phase in his career.
Since then, Murto has won the European championship both outdoors and on indoor tracks.
– I have made it to these games once. When I got there, it wasn’t optimal timing. It says a lot about these games that you can show your colors a little later.
From baby to danger
Murto, who spent his free time in Espoo, is now more easily recognized than before.
– Time from baby to baby is selfies and pictures. Mostly there are more selfies than anything else, Murto sums up the current trend.
What kind of encounters have been most memorable?
– Many people come to me with great joy, asking if they can come. What warms the little athletes the most is the fact that someone has started pole vaulting because of me.
Murto has watched with joy the Finns’ medal rain at the Espoo Games.
– A lot culminates in athlete-coach pairs. A lively and competent team. It’s hard to say any common explanatory factor, but athletes and coaches are always close-knit units.
The return of a fierce competitor
Wilma Murto will return from competition next week in the London Diamond League competition. Before the competition break, he finished second in the Lausanne Diamond League competition with a season-best 477.
In the same race, we saw a wonderful moment when the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Eliza McCartney returned to the Diamond League with a bang. After Murro, he was third in the race with a score of 471.
The 26-year-old New Zealander beamed at the jump, looking very happy.
McCartney’s record is 494 jumps in 2018. The youngest ever Olympic medalist in women’s pole vault has suffered from several injuries in recent years. Last season he did not compete at all.
McCartney jumped 475 in the winter, which was his longest jump in four years.
Murto once took the sport’s junior ME from McCarney. The Finn was also once on a training visit in New Zealand for a while.
– I have followed Eliza for a very long time. The first time I was at the Junior World Championships, he took the bronze there. It was really great to see him back. He was out of the Diamond League for five years, but now he’s making such a comeback.
– It has been a really deep swamp from which he has dug himself out. I really appreciate the kind of work he has done in the last few years.
It is quite possible that Murto and McCartney will have World Cup medals at the World Championships in Budapest. If McCartney is able to stay healthy, this could be an example in the future Tero Pitkämäki and by Andreas Thorkildsen such a tough duo.
– It’s fine! Go to me, Murto laughs.