National team head coach Rok Draksic, who is piloting Finnish judokas towards Paris, signed an extension contract and will continue in his duties until the Los Angeles Olympics.
The head coach who has achieved excellent results in Finnish judo in recent years Rok Draksic, 36, put his name on the Judoliito continuation paper on Wednesday. He expects a lot from the future.
– I am really happy. I believe that we have taken a big step forward in the results and I am sure that they will improve even more, comments Draksic, who has settled in Finland excellently.
Chairman of the Judo Association Esa Niemi says that they wanted to ensure Draksic’s continuation in good time and at the same time that the upward development in Finnish judo will continue until the Los Angeles Olympics.
– This is not a sprint, but a marathon. When you think about the whole, Roki has had a great time here. As we know, you can get into “bad” conditions in the world. Do you even want to take the family there? He is very attached to Finnish athletes and what they do, and appreciates the fact that contracts are kept here, Niemi lists.
The judo world has been aware of the current achievements of the well-liked Slovenian, and he had already had time to be asked about other coaching positions in the world. Against this fact, securing Draksic for yet another four-year term was a strong bet from the Judo Federation.
– I knew that there was a judo coach game around the world already last summer. There has been movement regarding Roki. After all, this is the Judo Federation’s biggest investment of all time, and such long coaching contracts have never even been made before. Of course, the salary was revised, but let’s stay at a moderate, Finnish level. It’s not yet at the level of Saudi Arabia, grins Niemi.
The most visible of Draksic’s results has been Martti Puumalainen a sensational Masters win and securing a place at the Paris Olympics, but even behind that there is a lot of rising talent and potential, starting from the youth. The results have improved across the board at the national team level.
In adults, at the highest level, several athletes are already challenging the top of the world. In addition to Puumalainen, he competed in the Masters Valtteri Olin. Getting two athletes into a rock-hard, star-studded competition at the top of the sport requires a tough world ranking and was a historic act. This year I reached the bronze medal at the top IJF competition in Ulaanbaatar.
In addition Eetu Ihanamäki finished seventh in the Linz IJF competition this year and Luukas Saha fought last year in the legendary Paris Grand Slam in the bronze match.
Pihla Salonen, 20, new a couple of weeks ago in the European Championships, his place in the Junior final. His gold medal from the previous year was replaced by silver. The achievement is staggering when you consider that he moved from 52 kg to the upper weight class to 57 kg, which is extremely challenging in martial arts.
At the same time, the judo promise from Pori became the first Finnish junior who has twice been in the finals at the EC level of the sport.
In the same weight category, i.e. 57 kilos, Chikara from Helsinki, 17 years old, is gaining interest Riina Myllyläwho this summer took the European Championship bronze for under-18s and a month later also won the EYOF bronze at the Youth Olympics.
The Judo Federation has centralized coaching at the Olympic Training Center in Helsinki, where the Urhea hall and the capital region’s sports academy Urhea offer international-level conditions and prerequisites to rise from youth to the top of adults. The centralization solution has been a big and financial effort.
– I want to thank the Judo Federation and the athletes for the trust I received. A big thank you also goes to Urhea’s top-class training conditions, says Draksic.