Cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday evening and was selected as Sportsman of the Year for the fourth time.
Olympic champion Iivo Niskanen was awarded Sportsperson of the Year for the fourth time on Thursday evening.
Niskas was asked at the Sports Gala organized in the Helsinki ice hall, which one weighs more, the boy born on December 4th only the Uno stick awarded to the Athlete of the Year?
– At least the boy will grow up faster and soon pass away, smiled the great skier.
Niskanen won the Sportsman of the Year title for the fourth time and became the all-time top cross-country skier Veikko Hakulinen with. Hakulinen was Sportsman of the Year in 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1960.
– It is difficult to analyze this now. A great and long career is behind us and fortunately it will continue – hopefully at the same level and for as long as possible. It sounds pretty wild that we have reached such achievements, Niskanen, who was previously recognized as Sportsman of the Year in 2014, 2017 and 2018, tasted it.
Niskanen admitted that ranking athletes from different sports is difficult.
– To some extent, this is even embarrassing for me to compare and then follow that conversation. When an athlete is the absolute best in his own sport, it’s always extremely hard.
In February 2022, Iivo Niskanen won three medals on the Olympic tracks in Beijing. He took the individual gold medal in the traditional skiing 15 km race and the bronze medal in the 30 km combined race. The color line of the neck was completed Joni Mäen with the Olympic silver won in the pair sprint.
So far, this season has not had the same winning streak.
Niskanen got sick with corona before the season even started properly.
The star athlete of the Puijo Ski Club recently stopped at the Tour de Ski, which left at least the general public with small question marks about his condition.
Niskanen responded by telling about his alternative race last weekend. At the same time, the final decision of the Tour de Ski took place.
– I skied against myself at the weekend and got my first win of the season. I hope that winning streak continues in the next games, Niskanen grinned widely.
The next competition at the Tampere Ski Championships?
Niskanen said that although the lack of snow causes problems in the Central European skiing calendar and possible postponement of competitions, he doesn’t care where the next World Cup qualifiers are skied.
The most important thing, they say, is that Karpas, who won the gold medal in three consecutive Olympics, runs as hard as possible.
– Fortunately, it has been good to ski in Kuopio in many recent winters.
The World Ski Championships will be held in Planica, Slovenia, from February 22 to March 5, 2023.
– The World Cup is only a month and a half away. It’s good to keep that in mind and I’ll work for that, so that I can succeed there in the best possible way. What serves me now is that I get a lot of intact races under me.
– Also the Tampere WC skiing (January 20-22) sounds good at this stage, revealed Niskanen.