A better situation in Finnish athletics – more places in the final last time 40 years ago | Sport

Paris Olympics on channels 26.7.–11.8. Go to the competition website here. You can find the entire program of the games here.

What speaks?

As many as eight Finnish track and field athletes have progressed to the final competition in Paris through preliminary heats or qualifiers. The last time things went better at the Olympic level was exactly 40 years ago in Los Angeles, when 13 Finnish track and field athletes cleared their way to the final competition.

The level of Finnish athletics has risen nicely in recent years, when the final competition places in the World Championships and the Olympics are used as a point of comparison.

In the prestigious competitions of 2011-13, 2015-17 and 2019, a maximum of five Finns were seen in the finals (2015). Otherwise, the basic rule was that there were 1–2 Finnish athletes in the final.

A small increase has been seen in the last three years. In the three global prestigious competitions held before Paris, 4–6 Finns were seen in the finals.

We have to go to the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, when more Finns have reached the finals than now: nine.

Sports expert Jaakko Ojaniemi competed in the 10-match event of those Games, finishing ninth in style. Now in Finnish athletics, we are at the same level as 20 years ago.

– The scope has also increased in athletics, even though there are not too many superstars. The number of point athletes has increased in recent years. Pohja also has good European Championships, such as the Munich Games two years ago. There has also been good width in the youngsters, so now that good general level is visible.

The points position means that you are placed in the top eight. Many question the value of that investment.

What is the significance of points and final places?

– Yes, it raises the athlete’s profile. You can enter the toughest competitions outside of the prestigious competitions. It is important that Finnish athletes can participate in even tougher competitions. Get a routine and get to compete against the best. I believe it is important if you want to succeed in value competitions.

Who squealed?

Tuesday’s cheerleaders were the cheerfully performing Finnish women. The 13-year-old who performed as the youngest Finnish Olympic athlete of all time Heili Sirviö was a handsome fifth in Skating Park.

The Finn, born in 2011, was the youngest participant in the eight finalists. He did a fakie to fakie 540 trick that no one else in the finals did.

Sirviö grabbed the Olympic place around Midsummer. Since then, he has become a phenomenon of his own in Finland.

A 13-year-old child has brought a real dose of freshness to the competition milieu. Even a sports legend Tony Hawk has noticed the young Finn.

– It came to say “hi” to me. It’s really nice, Sirviö said with a laugh.

Silja Kosonen and Krista Tervo were, on the other hand, fifth and sixth in the women’s moukari final.

It is the first time since the 1996 Atlanta Games that two Finnish women are among the top eight in Olympic athletics. 28 years ago in a javelin Heli Rantanen was number one and Mikaela Ingberg eighth.

– It’s a really rare treat to be served like that. Both athletes at their maximum level. One fell short of his record and the other set his record. You can’t ask for more, having won the Kaleva Games for the first time in June Tuomas Seppänen says.

Kosonen threw a twinkle in the corner of his eye that at the next Olympics, the Finnish moukari women will go for a triple victory. However, Kosonen wanted to make it clear at what level the Finnish women’s javelin throw is at the moment.

It’s coming from the young side Charlotte Sandkullaa mixed Pinja Kärhä. There is a sequel.

– The number of girls’ enthusiasts has remained very high compared to boys’. In Finland, they know how to throw the ball very well. Let’s share information with others. Nothing is hidden.

Who was disappointed?

The expected men’s 1,500 meters saw one of the biggest surprises of the Olympics. In July, in Monaco’s Diamond League, they beat Norway to the fourth European record of all time Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:26,73) missed out on medals.

The 23-year-old Norwegian won Olympic gold three years ago in Tokyo. In the two previous World Championships, he had finished second.

Now the surprise winner was ahead Cole Hocker (USA), British Josh Kerr and the USA Yared Nuguse.

What next?

Today, in the evening section of athletics, there are more Finns in field sports, when Wilma Murto and Elina Lampela as many as 20 athletes compete in the pole vault final.

Three years ago, Murto was fifth in the five-ring competition in Tokyo. Lampela, on the other hand, competes on outdoor tracks in his first global competition final. At the European Championships in June, he finished fourth.

Sinem Kurtbay and Central axis sailed in the Nacra 17 class in medal starts. The Finns, who are in seventh place, have more than 30 points on their way to the medals.

Canadian Finn by Gordon Herbert represented by Germany advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday by defeating Greece 76–63.

Germany will face home crowd favorite France in the semi-finals on Thursday. A year ago, the team led by Herbert won the World Championship gold.