World Championship bronze medalist Wilma Murto received a great reception from the juniors of Salon Vilppaa in Helsinki-Vantaa. A little rest on the plane was necessary, as Murro’s program continues to be very busy.
Mika Halonen,
Simo Leinonen
Athletics World Championships 19.8.–27.8. Ylen channels. See the schedule and broadcast information of the games at this link.
Winner of Finland’s first World Championships medal in athletics since 2015 in Budapest Wilma Murto returned to his native Finland.
At Helsinki-Vantaa airport, Murto was met by a large group of young fans waving the Finnish flag.
– You could try it sometime. It’s quite difficult, comments the pole vaulting junior team of Salon Vilppa Lifewhose own sports are hurdles and long distances.
When Murto finally got there, the team from Salon Vilppaa welcomed him in the alley of honor.
– Now this doesn’t seem terribly bad. Really nice reception from the guys at the club, Murto smiled.
Murto didn’t want to compare the experience to when he arrived home as European champion, because “all really great experiences”.
– This is quite impressive. Recently, it has become clear to me that what I do inspires young people. There were a lot of girls in the pole vault at the Junior Championship, it was somehow incomprehensible. It hasn’t been that long since I was one of them and closely involved in Vilppaa’s club activities.
After Wednesday night’s race, Murto has already given a huge number of interviews and participated in cake coffees organized by the Sports Federation, among other things. After that, the flight was even a welcome change.
– I happily sat there quietly in place for a few hours. It’s been quite active, and I haven’t slept too long in a couple of nights, so it’s a good time to rest.
Murto competes next Thursday in the Zurich Diamond League. He will fly there already on Monday. Murro’s coach Jarno Koivunen still stayed in Budapest, from where Koivunen will travel with Murro’s seipäs directly to the Dimantliiga mittelö.
But the party buzz is still known this weekend as well.
– We have a happy weekend that way. I’m going to my brother’s wedding before my next trip.
– It may be that I am in the role of a driver.
Murro was asked at the airport when he would have time to rest. Murto said that he knew that there are really close weeks. The Zurich Diamond League match is on August 31st, the Sweden match will be played in Stockholm on September 2nd-3rd. and the Diamond League finals in Eugene, USA on September 16-17.
However, when asked, Murto already turned his gaze ambitiously to next year and the Olympics. Next summer will also be the European Championships.
– After thinking about this bronze for a few days, it feels like a good step. Hopefully, you will learn from this, gain experience and be able to put more effort into winning in Paris next year.
Murto has become a role model for many Finnish junior athletes, or why not parents as well. But who is Murro’s role model? He stated that he can’t name any individual greater than that.
However, Murto has said in interviews that he has followed his whole life very carefully Tero Pitkämäki things to do. Pitkämäki’s javelin bronze 2015 was Finland’s previous World Cup medal. It has often been the case that the javelin throwers throw on the last day of the World Championships when Finland’s medal count shows zero.
Murto said so According to Iltalehti before the javelin qualification, that he knows how the javelin throwers feel. He referred to how the opening of the medal account defines the success of the World Championships in the minds of Finns.
– It’s great that Wilma still remembers my performances. I’ve tried to send him a message and encourage him – whether it went well or badly, Pitkämäki commented to Iltalehte.
This season, Pitkämäki has been able to send Murto several “welcome to the club” messages, because Murto already won the Diamond League competition in London.
– I’ve said a little bit that your clubs have been huge. I’m coming to bring a bit of power to your clubs, Murto grumbled.
Finland’s previous World Cup medal brought by a woman was by Mikaela Ingberg javelin bronze 1995. After that, the medal was won in addition to Pitkämäki Aki Parviainen, Eduard Hämäläinen, Arsi Harju and Tommi Evilä.