Veli-Matti “Aku” Partanen walked sixth in the 20 kilometers of the World Championships in Budapest. The Finnish record set at the Kaleva Games was improved by more than a minute in Budapest.
Henri Kaukonen,
Emma Jump
Athletics World Championships 19.8.–27.8. Ylen channels. See the schedule and broadcast information of the games at this link.
Tormented by a thunderstorm, the World Cup began with records for Finns. Brother-Matti “Aku” Partanen walked 20 kilometers in a new Finnish record time of 1.18.22. The new record time was enough to finish sixth in the race. At the same time, the score account of the Finnish team was opened.
Less than a month has passed since Partanen’s previous record, when Partanen, representing the Lappeenranta Sports Men, walked in the Kaleva Games held in Lahti at the end of July with a time of 1.19.25. On Saturday in Budapest, Partanen improved his previous record by one minute and three seconds.
Before the race, Partanen said that the walkers will fall away from the top one by one, but his goal was to stay in the front until the end. On Saturday, however, the brightest peak got away.
– I didn’t expect such a hard level. The rain before the race cooled the weather. I wasn’t quite able to match the speed of the top, but I still felt that way, which is good, Partanen sums up his walk.
The Finn was satisfied with his performance. He fancied his performance furiously at the finish line. You can watch Partanen’s finish in the video that is the main picture of this story.
– Now everything was left on the track. There was a tough training period at the Kaleva Games, but now it has been sensitized and lightened, so there was one more minute to get in shape. I don’t know what I could have done better, so I’m really satisfied.
The sixth place in Budapest is Partanen’s career’s best value race performance. From ninth place in Tokyo’s 50 km Olympic walk, sixth place in Saturday’s 20 km is a step forward. After Budapest, the goal is next year and Paris.
– Considering next year’s Paris Olympics, this promises well.
The storm caused disbelief, but Partanen still took it easy
The storm in Budapest delayed the start of Saturday’s race by two hours. According to Partanen, the postponement of the competition caused a feeling of disbelief in the walkers.
– We went to rest for a couple of hours and Jerry’s (Jokinen) and we listened to music. I took little naps in it, so I had nothing to worry about.
The race that finally started started at a high speed and Partanen, who was in the first ten, walked almost at his own ten kilometer record pace.
– It was a fast pace, but it didn’t scare me. I was short of breath and my legs felt good. There was no fear that I wouldn’t make it to the end.
Partase faces a tough recovery from Saturday’s race, because on Thursday the Finnish walker has a 35-kilometer walk ahead of him.
– Now we need to get fluids and nutrition in and start recovery. I haven’t really given it any thought yet. This first and then we go towards 35 kilometers.