On Friday, Minja Korhonen became the first ever Finnish woman to reach the podium in the combined World Cup. Top talent dreams of the sport reaching the Olympic level.
Joel Sippola,
Jukka Eskanen
Minja Korhonen has been the most positive surprise of the Finnish winter sports season. The only 16-year-old combined athlete has repeatedly improved the all-time best ranking of a Finnish female athlete in the combined World Cup.
A couple of weeks ago in Lillehammer, Norway, he was sixth and the next day fifth. Last week in the Continental Cup, he celebrated a victory.
In the race held in Ramsau, Austria on Friday, Korhonen became the first Finnish woman ever to reach the podium, finishing third.
The Norwegians Gyda Westvold Hansen mixed Ida Marie Hagen took a double win. The winner was separated by one minute and 41 seconds. He started the skiing section handsomely in third place with the hill results of the reserve race.
The good results of the talent born in 2007 have familiar pieces of success. The training has taken off and the changes on the equipment side have also worked. One of the important runs has also started as his coach Terttu Lapland.
– He has brought regularity and control to training. The amount of training has remained in a suitable ratio, which is one significant factor behind the result, says Korhonen.
To Mäkiskoulu as a preschooler
Korhonen’s love for the sport was already in preschool. The person from Siilinjärvi was hooked on the Siilijärvi Ponnistus mountain school brochure.
– I asked my parents if I could go there. I have been involved in the sport ever since, Korhonen recalls ten years ago.
Korhonen already competed in the World Cup last season. It was a perfect time to gain experience.
Last year, everything was still new, but now he knows how to approach the World Cup with a more relaxed attitude.
He describes himself as an athlete as relaxed. It is an important feature in a skill sport like ski jumping.
– I try to think that they are just competitions, says Korhonen.
Olympics biggest dream
Korhonen’s goals for this season are in the top 10. The World Youth Championships and the Youth Winter Olympics are also important competitions this season.
However, the biggest dream of a young athlete is to compete for success at the Olympics. Combined is not yet on the program for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
– It would be really great to get to the 2030 Games. The Olympics has been a dream since childhood. It would be great to be able to compete there by 2030 at the latest, Korhonen hopes.
1. Gyda Westvold Hansen NOR 14.41,2
2. Ida Marie Hagen NOR + 42.0
3. Minja Korhonen FIN +1.41.2
4. Nathalie Armbruster GER +2.00,8
5. Lisa Hirner AUT +2.06,1
6. Haruka Kasai JPN +2.06,7
7. Mari Leinan’s Lund NOR +2.07,3
8. Jenny Nowak GER +2.17,6
9. Marte Leinan Lund NOR +2.20,2
10. Annika Malacinski USA +2.24,1
26. Heta Hirvonen FIN +7.32.9