Finnish skiers Cross mat Hakola, Iivo Niskanen, Perttu Hyvärinen and Niko Anttola took World Championship silver at the Planica World Championships on Friday.
It was the first medal for Finland in the Planica Games, which went smoothly. At the same time, it was the first prestigious medal for Finland in the men’s ski relay since the 2009 World Championships in Liberec.
– I have to admit that I was very nervous. I tried to keep my head together, said Niko Anttola, who brought Finland to the finish line in the anchor section.
The day before the relay, Iivo Niskanen and Ristomatti Hakola thought that Planica might be the last chance of the “youth chain” for a joint relay medal. The talk was about the experienced trio Iivo Niskanen, Ristomatti Hakola and Perttu Hyvärinen. All three happen to be 31 years old.
– What have they been talking about like that, Hyvärinen acknowledged after the medal skiing.
– After all, it’s hard work to get you on the line when you’re in your twenties, Niskanen blurted out, referring to the Finnish anchor Niko Anttola.
This winter’s youth world champion in his twenties was the missing piece, thanks to which Finland’s medal dreams came true.
– Now we got the fourth very hard run. Niko made our dreams possible, Hyvärinen incensed before turning his eyes to the home viewers in Finland.
– Come on in Finland… It’s Friday. It’s a holiday, Hyvärinen got ready for a bigger public celebration.
Iivo Niskanen already directed his gaze further. The Finnish skiing star had won almost everything in her career before the relay medal at the prestigious games. He still lacked this award.
– This was a good start. Let’s put in 3,000 hours of training, and we’ll win Olympic gold at the same time, Niskanen looked three years ahead.
– I told Niko that he can leave without pressure and do his best. Niko is, without a doubt, a cool-headed guy.
Iivo Niska and Niko Anttola have already been compared a lot.
– Nikon’s potential is big. Hopefully there are still plenty of screws to tighten. Let’s get a great guy for a long time in Finnish skiing. Clearly, he has oxygen-taking talent. With those qualities, you can build a long-lasting star, Niskanen estimates.
Read also: The Norwegian champions were impressed by the Finnish medalists behind Iivo Niskanen – “Finland has a new star”
Ristomatti Hakola remembered the via Dolorosa – he didn’t dare to watch the race
Ristomatti Hakola competed in Planica World Ski Championships for the first time in the relay. Hakola held his ground, even though the competition contract had only involved a week and a half of waiting until now.
Hakola has not had an easy time lately. He had health problems in the summer, which delayed the start of this season.
– This is a great moment. There will be all kinds of reminiscing about what happened during the year. This crowns such a Via Dolorosa. You can’t help but enjoy, Hakola said.
After that, Iivo Niskanen made a revelation from behind the scenes, when he and Hakola were waiting for Hyvärinen and Anttola’s bets.
– I watched Rise in the service truck when we went to change clothes. I wondered what he was doing and asked if the internet package had run out. Rise said she can’t fucking watch. Then we waited in silence. We then watched in the stadium that the medal came, Niskanen opened.
– I went to the stadium with my eyes closed and under the screen that I couldn’t see the difference, Hakola laughed.
According to Hyvärinen, the relay silver was a face wash from the Finnish skiers.
– Our companies have not clicked. We have done a great job in the long run. Finally we succeeded. This World Cup silver after Norway is really hard, Hyvärinen described.
Iivo Niskanen opened the party plans: “The head coach is Bile-Teemu”
At the end of the interview, Niskanen sent his wishes to Finland.
– Since 2014, we have been on the same finish line many times with a medal. Yes, this is worth celebrating, Niskanen emphasized.
After the celebration, Niskanen opened up about the Finnish team’s party plans. Of course, Niskanen is still aiming for Sunday’s 50 kilometers, but after that there will be some sort of celebration.
– The head coach is Bile-Teemu. Ready for Temppar, if the invitation goes. There will be good scrimmages, said Niskanen, referring to the head coach Teemu Pasaseen.
Niskanen already talked before the relay about how he would call for a sauna after the relay medal.
– If you could find a sauna in some hotel, when we don’t have one. Hopefully we’ll celebrate even bigger then, Niskanen concluded.
Of course, Niskanen went to the evening’s award ceremony with a happy mood to celebrate his first relay medal of the prestigious competitions.
– The first time when there are three friends. It’s much nicer when you have three friends by your side than twiddling your thumbs yourself, Niskanen described.
The evening’s award ceremony is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. and will be shown live on Areena, TV2 and the application for live coverage of the World Ski Championships.