The Finnish Sports Association organized the Athletics Gala. See all the awardees in this story.
Wilma Murto was awarded as Athlete of the Year at the Finnish Sports Association’s gala in Helsinki on Friday. The title was the second in a row for the pole vaulter from Salon Vilppa.
Murro, who celebrated the World Championship bronze in Budapest, had a successful season, although not all of the jumper’s wishes were fulfilled.
– I am satisfied that the average of the season’s five best race results increased by 10 cents from last year to 478. But 480 wasn’t the number there was potential for, Murto pointed to as his season best, which he surpassed three times.
– On the other hand, that average of the best five results makes it possible that it doesn’t have to be a magical super day, that you can do anywhere, Murto added in SUL’s announcement.
In the completed competition season, Murto became the European indoor track champion in Istanbul, won the EC team competition in the first division in Chorzów and was third in the World Championships in Budapest. The season also brought Murro his first career victory in the Diamond League competition.
Murto is his coach Jarno Koivunen already drew the guidelines for the upcoming competition season – the WC indoor track competitions in Glasgow in March, the EC competitions in Rome in June and the Olympic competitions in Paris in August.
Murto said that it is in a way a good thing that there are two prestigious competitions before the Olympics, but it also affects the emphasis and plans for the summer.
– It means that no compromises are made regarding the Olympics. The EC competitions are taken seriously, but they are clearly the second priority and serve the Olympic competitions.
According to Murro, the training concept that has worked in recent years will not be changed significantly for the training season that has started.
– Jarno and I held a season meeting on Thursday, where we went over what was done and what could be done even better in the future. 95% of what has been done will be continued, but we are always thinking about a few new tricks, says Murto.
– In training, a big focus is on increasing the strength of the upper body, while maintaining the existing strengths. The idea is to get on board the ship well and use the ship’s energy more efficiently than at present.
Other Finnish stars of the season
The sprinter of the year was awarded to the European champion in the indoor track 60-meter hurdles, and in the summer SE who ran the 100-meter hurdles Reetta Hurske.
The endurance runner of the year title was taken by the 10,000 meter SE breaker Camilla Richardson. SE is now recorded on 31.12.78. At the World Championships, Richardsson finished 15th in 10,000 meters with a time of 32:15.74.
The thrower of the year award went to the under-23 European champion of the javelin throw and the fifth-place finisher at the World Championships in Budapest Silja Kosonen.
The all-rounder of the year was the under-23 heptathlon European champion and finished ninth in the World Championships Saga Vanninen.
The walker of the year was awarded the culmination of his brilliant season with sixth place in the 20 km at the World Championships in Budapest. Brother-Matti “Aku” Partanen.
Among the para-athletes, the track and field athlete of the year was awarded in the 100-meter world championship category to the winner of the 54 World Championships in Paris Amanda Kotajawho also set the 200-meter European record during the summer.
He was awarded as the jumper-sprinter of the year Iida Lounela, who was fourth in the long jump in class 12 at the World Championships in Paris and qualified for the Paralympic Games. The thrower of the year title went to the bronze medalist at the World Championships Teijo Köpikkä.