Elian Lehto is being negotiated for the possibility of continuing training with the top skiers of the Swiss alpine team.
Matti Lehtisaari,
Nina Old house
A Finnish skier who excelled in the speed sports of alpine skiing Elian Lehto has already been training for two seasons with the skiers of the Swiss national team. The goal is for the good cooperation to continue in the coming season as well.
CEO of Ski Sport Finland Janne Leskinen confirmed to Urheilu that the negotiations on the matter are already advanced.
– Both the sports association and the Olympic Committee agree that the cooperation with Switzerland has been fruitful. We definitely want to continue it. Negotiations with Switzerland are in a good position. We will surely get more information soon, Leskinen said.
Leskinen believes that it can be ready in the near future.
– We will try to finish things as soon as possible, in May at the latest, but probably already within a couple of weeks, Leskinen elaborated.
The Olympic Committee will announce its support decision on May 15. Lehto has previously told Urheilu that the expenses of the Switzerland package have been 150,000 to 200,000 euros per season.
– The Olympic Committee’s support is part of the whole. Big investments are needed from both the athlete and the sports federation. We want to know the funding base in its entirety, Leskinen said.
Rovaniemeläinen Lehto, 23, made Finnish history last season when he was able to participate in the final event of the World Cup ski jump.
Haarala joins Shiffrin’s background – “Absolutely crazy thing”
On Wednesday, there was heavy Finnish alpine skiing news, when Janne Haarala joins the US superstar Mikaela Shiffrin to the coaching team. Haarala, who coached the Norwegian alpine women, will move to Shiffrin’s background with a two-year contract.
– The hardest things in the history of Finnish alpine skiing, at least on the coaching side. This is absolutely insane. However, alpine skiing is still quite a young sport in Finland and we don’t have that kind of tradition, Urheilu’s expert Kalle Palander comment.
Palander sees that Haarala is leading the way for other Finnish alpine coaches as well.
– We’ve never had really top-class coaches. That gives confidence to others that Finns can do this job too.
The return of Marcel Hirscher is surprising
Palander amazes Austria by Marcel Hirscher surprising announcement to return to the Games in the colors of Holland. Hirscher retired five years ago at the age of 30, but now plans to return and wants to represent his mother’s home country of Holland.
– It’s unfathomable to dare to try something after a five-year break. Is the guy so hungry that he even wants an Olympic medal, Palander referred to the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games in 2026.
Hirscher has a huge job ahead of him when the next season’s World Cup starts in the fall in Sölden, Austria.
– He (Hirscher) is 80th in the world in slalom and over 300 in giant slalom. He has to start in Sölden (in the opening of next season) with number 75. Not an easy place for a 35-year-old guy, Palander described Hirscher’s situation.