Since 2013, only two Finnish female cross-country skiers have been able to win an individual medal. Krista Pärmäkoski fifth and Kerttu Niskanen twice.
For her part, a Finnish woman has reached an individual World Cup medal only once in the last ten years. Pärmäkoski was second in the combined race of the 2017 World Championships.
Already next year, a new name may join this group, when the world championships are held in Trondheim, Norway. Skied a wonderful end of the season Johanna Matintalo last week reached the World Cup podium for the first time in his career on a normal distance, being second in the 10 km traditional intermediate start race in Falun, Sweden.
The trip in question is on next winter’s World Cup program, as is the traditional pair sprint, where Matintalo was also on the way to the top of the podium. He was second in Salpausselka with Krista Pärmäkoski.
Fiance’s successes
For Matintalo, the end of the season has brought wonderful experiences doubly. His common-law partner Lauri Vuorinen achieved his first personal podium place at the World Cup level in the Falun sprint.
On the pair sprint day of the Salpausselkä World Cup, both Matintalo and Vuorinen got to celebrate on the podium. On that weekend, Matintalo was moved by the successes of his life partner.
Matintalo says that such joint successes are rare.
– It’s happened once that both of them get along. At this level, the margins are so small in one direction and the other, so it is likely that even if you do well, the other person may not.
– You can enjoy your own success better when someone else is succeeding alongside you. At the same time, there is no need to worry that the other person is avoiding everything as well as they would like. Another’s success makes your own success feel even better.
Spotting a medal opportunity
Even at the beginning of the season, the top positions seemed like distant things. Matintalo was in promising condition, but adversity came from all directions.
In the sprint of Ruka’s Suomen Cup, the man from Rovaniemi fell on the descent of Impilinna. He was afraid that the old shoulder injury had recurred.
Shortly after this, Matintalo fell ill with the corona virus, which ruined the early season and kept him out of the Tour de Ski, among other things.
From the end of the season, however, Matintalo got in great shape and made several great performances on normal distances skied with traditional skiing. Because the season has been so multi-phased, neither the World Championships nor the medals have been on the athlete’s mind.
– Next year’s World Cup has seemed far away. I’ve gone all season weekend and moment by moment. Actually, only now, after the good skiing in Falun, I remembered that oh yes, this trip is on next year’s World Cup programme.
Personal merit race medal
When the World Championships finally came to Matintalo’s mind, the idea of his own prospects for success brightened at the same time.
The traditional ten-kilometer split start race suits the Finns perfectly. Both Kerttu Niskanen, Krista Pärmäkoski and Johanna Matintalo can be on the podium if they succeed.
Two years ago, at the Beijing Olympics, Niskanen and Pärmäkoski won medals in that competition format. It was the first time in 22 years that two Finns have won Olympic medals in the same sport.
In his career, Matintalo has once won a medal for adults, when he celebrated relay bronze at the 2021 World Championships.
– If everything goes well, why wouldn’t a medal be possible? I was on the podium, and even Kerttu and victory were a few seconds away. That medal is not an impossible idea. It certainly increases work morale, Matintalo refers to a personal prize medal.
Evenness
Before his second place in Falun, the 27-year-old Matintalo had twice reached the top three in the traditional sprint at the World Cup. For a former 800-meter runner, a brisk sprint-like ski trip that also measures hard endurance is perfect.
On the other hand, Matintalo already showed six years ago by skiing the traditional 10 in 10 place, that the potential for normal trips is strong.
Former competitive skier Ville Nousiainen started about a year ago as a personal trainer of a talented athlete.
– One goal was to achieve a certain uniformity on the side of normal journeys. I have had a few top places from normal trips. There has been potential, but when there have been bad days, I’ve been around 30th place. The basic level has been tried to get me to be at least in the top 10.
A more secure base level provides a backbone.
– I have been able to complete normal journeys more smoothly, especially with the traditional one. Now there are better conditions for a place on the podium when it’s the top day. It is more likely than if the range of good and bad days was larger, Matintalo opens.
Urheilu will follow Urheilustudio’s weekend of 22.–24.3. on their website in this article.
On Saturday, live broadcast of the women’s 10 km (p) race from 13:25 and the men’s 15 km (p) race from 14:25. Live broadcasts on TV2, Areena and ‘s network.
Men’s 10 km (y)
1) Perttu Hyvärinen, Puijo Ski Club 26.51,7
2) Markus Vuorela, Jämin Jänne +17.8
3) Ristomatti Hakola, Jämin Jänne +25.8
4) Arsi Ruuskanen, Kuusamo Erä-Veikot +26.4
5) Joonas Sarkkinen, Proski Oulu +38.1
6) Oskari Hökkä, Proski Oulu +46.4
7) Joel Ikonen, Pohti SkiTeam +47.3
8) Remi Lindholm, Imatra Athletes +49.6
9) Juuso Haarala, Pohti SkiTeam +59.3
10) Olli Ahonen, Imatra Athletes +59.9
Women’s 5 km (y)
1) Kerttu Niskanen, Vieremän Koitto 13:39,7
2) Krista Pärmäkoski, Ikaalist Athletes +18.5
3) Jasmi Joensuu, Vantaa Ski Club +33.4
4) Anne Kyllönen, Kainuu Ski Club +45.8
5) Johanna Matintalo, Pöytä Athletes +1.00,4
6) Jasmin Kähärä, Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu +1.09,9
7) Maija Hakala, Hämeenlinna Ski Club +1.12,7
8) Hilla Niemelä, Ikaalisten Urheilijat +1.19,7
9) Vilma Ryytty, Iisalmen Visa +1.24,2
10) Vilma Nissinen, Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu +1.24,3