Kuopio-based biathlete Arttu Heikkinen has intensified his training year after year. Heikkinen, who is still competing in the youth series, is going to see how far his own sports career will go.
16.3. 18:00 • Updated March 16 18:42
A biathlete from Kuopio Arttu Heikkinen test its limits in the next few years. Representing the Puijo Ski Club, Heikkinen won the World Championships for under-19s in the United States in February.
Heikkinen, who turns 18 in April, started biathlon as a 9-year-old boy. The crowd was enticed to try and the sport took over. In biathlon, Heikki is fascinated by the diversity of the sport.
– There are many different areas that need to be managed at the same time. The trail should get hard and the shooting range work should be handled perfectly. In addition, wind conditions must be taken into account, Heikkinen thinks.
In addition to sports, Heikkinen is now studying for a second year in sports high school. The coordination between school and sport has gone well. The goal of the 175-cent athlete is to graduate from high school in the spring of 2024.
The next Olympics are already in the binoculars
In the next few years, the young man’s gaze will be firmly on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
– There’s a longer target set there.
Heikkinen is still competing in the youth championships, and in the coming years the goal is to enter the World Cup and tour the lower-level IBU Cup.
Arttu Heikkinen’s ski coach is his father Jarmo Heikkinen. The coaching relationship has played great and the small father-son coaching twists are in the picture.
– For many years, we have done so that we have tightened a little at a time. Although there has been success, there is still work to be done. We hope to have access to alliance groups. Campings in high places and summer and autumn camps must be applied for, but basic work can be done in Kuopio, says coach Jarmo Heikkinen.
Arttu Heikkinen, who is comfortable in Puijo and the Heinjoki shooting range in Southern Kuopio, now trains for 650 hours a year. In addition, there will be about 10,000 shots. As the age increases, the number of practice hours increases further.
Training conditions in the hometown are good and Puijon Hiihtoseuran Ykköstykit brings its own addition Iivo Niskanen and Perttu Hyvärinen.
– The young men have occasionally been able to train with them. The contrast to the top of the world is known and what needs to be done, even if Arttu does not aspire to be a cross-country skier, says coach Jarmo Heikkinen.
Improving your shooting level requires a lot of work
An important link is also the shooting coach who has been in the background for the first year Tapio Kajan. There are plans to increase Heikkinen’s shot volumes by about ten percent per year.
– Arttu has got his basic level of shooting to a moderately good level. When we make a few small filings a year, the man should start to be ready when moving to the general series, Kajan estimates.
Arttu Heikkinen intends to stay close to Kuopio, at least for the time being.
– I might move to Kontiolahti if I have to leave here. It’s stuff to come, and there’s no information about it yet. At the moment, a clear development target is to get more speed in my shooting, Heikkinen thinks.
– About men’s national team athletes Tero Seppälä is yes ahead, but with everyone else Arttu can reasonably compete. Work needs to be done, but we are not terribly far away. Yes, the Olympic place can be achieved in four years, says coach Jarmo Heikkinen.
Arttu Heikkinen will compete in the international youth winter competition in Vuokatti next week.