– No one hopes that their career will end due to injuries.
In an ideal situation Miia Sillman would be currently preparing for next season and aiming for his long-term dream of the Paris Olympics. However, the last few years have been far from ideal for the 28-year-old seventh grader.
The athlete, who has been wrestling with a back injury for almost two years, published on the weekend on Instagram an update that ultimately surprised few. Sports career was over.
According to Sillman, the difficult decision matured in his mind little by little. In April, he told his coach in the middle of a long training session For Mika Vakkurthat he couldn’t stand the constant pain anymore.
– I remembered what it is to train healthy and according to the program. My training was very far from that. It had been a year and a half since the last pain-free exercise. Even though I am a woman of humor, my humor no longer lends itself to that, says the two-time Finnish heptathlon champion now.
In the summer, Sillman only competed in the long jump, because it was the only sport in which he could even do something. A small part of Sillman hoped that his sports career would take off after all.
At the Tampere GP race in August, Pyrinnö’s athlete had to face the truth. Before each jump, I thought that it would hurt soon.
– During the race, it became clear that this is no longer for me. I manage well in normal life, but my body is no longer fit for elite sports.
Even putting on socks is overwhelming
Sillman’s injury cycle began in the summer of 2020, when he tried to jump his record height of 189 at the Kaleva Games. The ankle failed during the effort phase, and confidence in the functionality of the leg did not return properly even after rehabilitation.
A snowball effect was born, where injuries followed each other. At the turn of the year 2021–2022, the competitor’s back started showing symptoms. The beginning of stress osteopathy, i.e. a pre-fracture stage and a small bulge, were observed in the back.
The long period of rehabilitation and treatment took a toll on Sillman, who is known as a cheerful person. The athlete visited various specialists, but the uncertainty did not disappear anywhere.
– Of course, no one had a crystal ball that would have shown how this matter is progressing. Sometimes there was a bit better news, sometimes the message was that “we’ll see”.
Back pain was also felt in everyday life. During the worst times, Sillman was not allowed to wear socks. Tying shoelaces was an overwhelming task at times. Sillman psyched himself up for that by sitting on the bench for a long time and breathing deeply.
– Sometimes I have cursed that our dishwasher is installed at the floor level. That’s where the deep squats of the day will be done, when you can’t just lean forward cheerfully, but you also have to take the time to prepare for that.
Sillman understood that something had to be drawn.
– You can’t go to extremes, even if you dreamed of the Olympics as a child. There is life even after sports. With this same body, you should be able to live in a nursing home at the age of 85–90.
A big help for a double career
Nowadays, when there is no more physical strain caused by top sports in life, Sillman says that he manages very well in everyday life. Ending a sports career still hurt. In his closing update, Sillman described the year ending as extremely difficult.
– I dreamed that I could end the day and a race that was meaningful to me, where I would say goodbye. But it doesn’t always work out that way in sports.
Along with his sports career, Sillman has studied to become a midwife and has worked in the field. The double career rose to great value amid injuries.
– If there was nothing else in my everyday life, this would have been much worse. In addition to sports, I have done a gig as a midwife and consciously took my thoughts there. Fortunately, I haven’t had to base my identity on just one thing.
Sillman, who lives in Kangasa, has many plans. She will graduate as a midwife in March and has recently founded a company selling dog accessories with her husband Konsta Koskelanhis friend of Maria Huntington and this life partner Riku Dufvan with.
– There has also been a lot of courting for coaching jobs. At the moment it is a little too early, but in the future it is very possible. I feel that I have a lot to give in that field as well, says Sillman, who enjoys working with children and young people.
The adversities of the last few years have taught me to appreciate the basic things in life. Sillman says that he hopes for his future life above all to be healthy.
– We also hope to have a family addition at some point. Above all, it would be great if you could live a relatively stress-free life. After all, it’s pretty little required.