The purposefulness of the European champion in javelin throwing and the Olympic medalist was revealed even before the school years. Now the goals are in the forest sector in a joint venture with Tero Pitkämäki.
The growing environment in the farmhouse, the dreams and dreams of childhood and purposefulness did About Antti Ruuskanen a successful top athlete. Ruuskanen showed his strong will when he was four years old Matti Nykänen inspired by his success, he announced that he too would become an Olympic winner.
In his thirties, Ruuskanen became the European champion. Prior to that, he had reached Olympic silver and completed his medal collection with three European Championship bronze medals.
The massive spear career ended last year when the body that experienced the bumps no longer obeyed the will. Since then, Ruuskanen has focused his goals on a forestry company he founded with his competitors Tero Pitkämäki with.
– There is no fear of having to write about Ruuskanen’s comeback for javelin throwing. That’s a sure thing, Ruuskanen promises and laughs.
– The decision to close was difficult and heavy, but a little later it was already a great relief. Everything had already been given to the javelin throw.
Ruuskanesta, 38, will be released on Tuesday Leena Lehtolaisen book written by Räting’s place (January).
Emotion, dreams and fire
Ruuskanen’s life has settled down comfortably. In addition to the unmarried spouse, the family includes a ten-month-old daughter.
– It’s the most awesome it can be, Ruuskanen assures.
Ruuskanen’s dreams and goals are now being channeled into entrepreneurship.
– There was a lot of competition with Tero. After the sport, we focused on what would be as competitive an area as possible and rushed this forest company with a colleague, Ruuskanen says.
In Ruuskanen’s opinion, his sports career prepared him well for entrepreneurship.
– An athlete is an entrepreneur, Ruuskanen says.
– That part of it has survived. Fire to do things, fire to do things differently, the ability to challenge yourself and, if necessary, leave the comfort zone.
London and Zurich
In sports, Ruuskanen achieved a successful medal success, but at the same time he grew bigger with his medals and achievements. At the 2012 London Olympics, he became “Ronssi-Ruuskanen”, but the medal later became silver after his opponent’s doping cart.
The European Championships and Olympic Medal at the Zurich 2014 Games are Ruuskanen’s most significant achievements, but on an emotional level, the biggest experiences are less obvious.
Ruuskanen was convinced of his opportunities when he placed in the 2003 European Youth Championships Teemu Wirkkalan and Tero Järvenpää after the third.
The career had previously been interrupted due to elbow surgeries.
– Then in the European Championships came the feeling when you succeed and get a medal. I got such a pulse in my career that I was able to move on to the adult side.
The second emotional turmoil hit the 2015 Kaleva Games in Pori.
Pitkämäki opened the competition with a result of 87.72. Ruuskanen managed to break his record of 88.98 in his last turn.
– My record, Pielavesi record, Finnish championship and in the last round I was able to take the sucker from Tero Pitkämäki, Ruuskanen grins.
– That battle won felt good.
Ruuskanen enjoys the memory for a moment. Then the character of the top athlete wakes up from hibernation.
– It would have been if it had been ninety. Then it would have been a happy man.