Athletics World Championships 19.8.–27.8. Ylen channels. See the schedule and broadcast information of the games at this link.
Wilma Murto won his first World Cup medal in his career on Wednesday in Budapest. The medal is Finland’s first at the World Cup level in eight years and the first ever in the pole vault or height competition.
– Quite a variety of emotions. It is appropriate bittersweet (bittersweet in Finnish) in a certain way. I am incredibly satisfied that I can go home with a medal around my neck, Murto tells Urheilu.
Murto says he knew even before the last jump that the medal was coming. However, he concentrated so much on the last attempt from the height of 485 that he already regretted dropping it.
– I was so excited when I jumped. My first thought was regret that 485 didn’t go. Then I looked at the board and I was like a medal. The feeling of celebration came afterwards. The medal feels really good, says Murto.
After two falls, Murto had a conversation with his coach Jarno Koivune that he would jump to a height of 490. However, Murto was not satisfied with his jumps.
– That’s why I wanted a more likely crossing of 485 and then 490, if that had happened.
Murto started the competition strong, as he jumped high with a clean series of 480.
– I’m really satisfied with how cleanly everything I crossed went in the first. It’s really valuable. On the other hand, I always position myself so that if the first one doesn’t work, then I go higher.
– I was hungry. I feel that there is more in the body than 480, but you can be really satisfied with this.
What kind of day has it been in general. Your spouse told you that you are grumpy on race days?
– When it’s race day, I’d like everything to go the way I want. If it doesn’t work, then it starts to take over the brain, Murto laughed.
– This day has been relaxed and serene. The excitement before the race is not terribly nice, but it is part of the sport. It’s been a good day overall.
Murto has previously said that he has had to learn how to control his competitive tension. Physically, however, the feeling has not improved.
– After all, it has been a learning journey. I feel that my physical condition has not improved at all, rather it has gotten worse along the way, when the stakes have gotten tougher.
– I’ve learned that the feeling is just there, the feeling doesn’t bite. Let it be and focus on what I want to do. Today was a confident feeling. I do the best I can and, clichédly, we’ll see what it’s enough for.
Murto, who won the European championship on both indoor and outdoor tracks, had previously finished sixth at the World Championships and fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.
Murto stated that it will take a while to understand the meaning of the medal.
– I have received a medal in all of the last three competitions. They have been things that maybe sometimes. Now they are realistic and factual.
– Yes, this is a big thing, that a little girl’s dreams come true one by one. Next, let’s shine the global medals. This is a really big step on that journey.
Murto thanked his loved ones and that regardless of the results of the games, it is always good for him to go home. Murto also thanked the Finnish audience that had arrived.
– During training, a few competitors came to say that you have your home competition here. There were so many Finns. It was visible and felt. It felt really good to jump. This is a pretty cool dune that I have.
Murto still couldn’t guess what the rest of the evening would hold. He knew that the stadium alone could take some time.
– Let’s see what happens after that and who will meet and where. Isn’t this going to be a nice evening.