This summer, Oliver Helander has a better ability to maximize his current potential than Wilma Murta, says Urheilu’s Joel Sippola.
Joel Sippola sports reporter
In 2024, the table has been seen to be set To Wilma Murro. The most successful years of the pole vaulter’s career so far are behind him. The hard base level has been consolidated on an even harder base.
There has been talk of an Olympic victory and five meters, which are completely realistic goals in the case of the Finnish pole vaulter. The expectations only got stronger when Murto broke his hall record of 481 in his opening race in January.
Considered a similar talent Oliver Helander, 27, meanwhile, has become known for his injury sensitivity and ragged seasons. The summer’s competitions could be listed almost on the fingers of one hand.
Where Murto used to be Finland’s strongest trump card in global athletics championships, at the dawn of the new summer that status belongs to Oliver Helander.
21-year-old Silja Kosonen tossing moukari already in the background of the sharpest tip. From a basic level, he is still unarmed against tough North American pitchers. World Championship indoor medalist Saga Vanninen is not a potential medal candidate at the Paris Olympics.
Murto and Helander remain. Let’s look at it from the point of view of which of them has a better chance of maximizing their current potential.
I ruptured my Achilles tendon
Dark clouds hovered over the most important season of Murro’s sports career in March’s WC halls. The winner of the tough value race had to stop the race due to an Achilles tendon problem.
The state of Murro’s foot has been a subject of great interest throughout the spring. What is the situation of perhaps Finland’s brightest Olympic hope a few months before the h-moment?
Murro’s team hasn’t made the situation public at all. The two-time European champion has opened the veil of secrets through his Instagram account, among other things by stating that there was a small tear in the tendon and that the rehabilitation has been working according to schedule.
Murro’s top speed is based on a strong and functional speed run. Coach Jarno Koivunen confirmed to Urheilu that in recent weeks Murto has been able to get back to sports training.
However, the situation is not ideal considering the fierce competition season. Is sprinting working at the level it was before the injury? In general, how much has Murto leveled compared to its fiercest competitors?
Ready for Olympic gold?
Murto estimated eight years ago in the Arto Nyberg program that he is at his best between the ages of 23 and 26. The assessment of the athlete, who was only 17 years old at the time, has held its own amazingly well.
Three years ago, at the age of 23, his career took a new direction, when he was fifth at the Tokyo Olympics and improved his record after a five and a half year break. The following year, Murto rose to a whole new level and achieved the European championship. A year ago, he won the European Championship gold and the World Championship bronze with great results.
Murto turns 26 around the time of the European Championships in Rome. Previous predictions have indicated that this year he can break the five-meter mark and seriously fight for the Olympic gold.
Of course, Murto can be in excellent shape in the years to come, but it’s an embarrassing four years until the next five-ring races. Now if only there was a place to forge all possible potential. How he fares in the European Championships in Rome in a month is secondary to the athlete.
The level of women’s fencing in the world is now at such a level that in order to win the Olympics in Paris, you need a Murto that we have not seen yet.
Nina Kennedy is an iron race athlete. Former super promise Eliza McCartney approaches five meters after much trouble. Katie Moon is the star of recent years for sure. A young man who made a splash during the government period Molly Caudery is on the rise.
Olympic gold can therefore very well claim the mentioned five-meter crossing. At least close to it.
Will Murto have the kind of stamina required for Olympic gold or even an Olympic medal?
Rome is bustling
On the other hand, Helander, who opens his competition season today in the Doha Diamond League, approaches Rome from a delicious starting point. The most intact and best training season of the javelin career is behind us.
Throwing readiness is good. Already last season, Helander had a gratifying number of competitions (11) and competition throws. Even better starting points are opened by the coach Tero Pitkämäki to call for an increase in the basic level. A lot of long arcs can be expected from the Finn.
Due to the low competition throws, Helander left for the qualifiers of the value competitions earlier than towards the unknown. In all the silence, however, he has developed into a sufficiently experienced value competition visitor. In the previous two World Cups, Helander has been among the top eight.
In Rome, Helander has a place to brag. His main opponents are the closest Jakub Vadlejch and Julian Weber. Ukrainian by Artur Felfnerof Germany by Max Dehning and Hungary György Herczegin the level of young talent like that is not enough for the medal game yet. Vadlejch and Weber are sure blacksmiths, but Helander’s spiked throws flow with gold.
Even at the Olympics, the level is not dizzying. If miracles don’t happen, to India’s ferocity To Neeraj Chopra nobody can do anything in Paris. However, Helander’s new level is enough to easily fight for a medal in Paris.
Reflecting on the past years, the European championship and the Olympic medal would be real top successes from Helander at this point. In the case of Murro, missing out on Olympic medals would be a big disappointment considering the level of results in recent years.