Fireworks are going off, tin is being poured and the new sports year is at the door again!
At the turn of the year, there is a festive atmosphere in the field of sports, when we remember the achievements and athletes of the past year. At the same time, the change of year means the birth of new stories.
Urheilu asked Finnish athletes three questions regarding the coming year.
1. What is your New Year’s resolution for 2024?
2. What do you expect from your own sports year?
3. What sporting event are you looking forward to next year?
Sasu Salin, basketball
1. – Respond to friends’ and people’s messages better and recycle garbage even more. I wish the loved ones good health as well.
2. – I wish success for the national team’s games. I also don’t mind if my own game performance goes well. I also expect a lot of fans and howling in the halls.
3. – Yes, the next Olympics are in the spotlight. The aim is that we are also involved. However, I like to follow all sports that have Finnish representation.
Veera Kivirinta, swimming
1. – Heh, I have a lot of New Year’s resolutions. In terms of sports, if you think about it, I try to take better care of my mental health and my own mental health in general. I am trying to develop my ability to withstand pressure and pay attention to the constant filing of details. The goal is also to enjoy the sport while you can, even if it is difficult at times.
2. – Next year will be special for us in that way, when the long track World Championships are held in February. We’ve never had the World Cup at that time of the year and it’s a really funny time. It will be interesting to see what kind of condition I can build there. At the end of June, there are also long-track EC races, which I have expectations for. It is also on the cards whether my sports career will end in the summer or not.
3. – The Olympics and sport like sport. During those times, you can see a really diverse range of sports on TV. Watching athletics is interesting, but all sports are worth watching. All special sports are also meaningful, a good example is skating. It was interesting to watch in the last games.
Anni Hartikainen, soccer
1. – Regarding sports, I try to take the fans into account after every game, especially the smallest ones in the family. Go and say hi to them, even if it was a bad game below. That’s something I’m going to pursue.
2. – I hope that I can play a lot in the Swedish league in Rosengård. It’s great to be able to play against tougher opponents as well.
3. – I’m looking forward to the Helmareit Nations League matches. They will be against really tough countries.
Eemi Terportorti, volleyball
1. – I haven’t really made any promises before. The daughter said very well that there could be less time on the phone, so to speak. You could be less addicted to the phone than you are now.
2. – Above all, a healthy and successful year.
3. – Next summer’s Olympics will certainly be filled with excitement in all sports. I will follow my own sport in the front, but since we already missed the chance, then possibly the national basketball team Susijeng’s selections, if they can make it that far.
Väinö Mäkelä, frisbee golf
1. – My New Year’s resolution for 2024 is that I can be satisfied with what I do in sports. In addition, during the season, when there are difficult moments, I try to go through those things in that moment and try not to worry about them afterwards.
2. – I intend to set my own bar at a level where I have not been before as a player. I believe that it will be realized in the coming year as well.
3. – Of course, there are competitions coming up that I’m looking forward to, but in this answer I’m already jumping to the next year, 2025, when the Frisbee Golf World Championships will be held in Finland. At the same time, it is also the first time ever that the sport’s World Championships are held outside of North America. I’m really, really looking forward to that.