Eero Hirvonen, who was in a good mood in the combined summer GP, left Kuusamo on Wednesday due to a family tragedy. Hirvonen may still compete in Kuusamo this weekend.
The Finnish combined national team announced on Wednesday that Ilkka Herolan along with the one who has most gallantly flown the sport’s flag in recent years Eero Hirvonen, 27, had left Kuusamo. The reason for the departure was said to be family reasons.
– The reason is private and I can’t open up about it without Eero’s permission. In time, Eero will be able to tell himself what the combined head coach wants to comment on Antti Kuisma For Urheilu.
Also Hirvonen’s personal trainer Petter Kukkonen drew a very silent line about the reasons for Hirvonen’s departure.
According to the information obtained by Urheilu, Hirvonen did not leave the opening stage of the World Cup because of his small size. According to Urheilu’s source, the reason for Hirvinen’s departure is a “family tragedy” that requires the star athlete to be with his loved ones.
Although Hirvosen will certainly miss Thursday’s official hill practice and the combined reserve competition, it does not mean that he may not compete from Friday to Sunday in the World Cup. No fewer than three competitions are organized in between.
– The situation is even leaning in the direction that he will come back. So, he may very well compete already this weekend, Urheilu is told.
Hirvosen missed the opening event of Kuusamo the other year due to a leg injury sustained on the badminton court. Between 2017 and 2021, he has placed in the top three in the World Cup ten times, six of them in an individual competition. In the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, Hirvonen, known as an excellent skier, finished sixth no less than three times. He has represented Finland four times in the World Championships between 2017 and 2023. After his breakthrough season in 2017–2018, Hirvonen has suffered a lot from leg injuries.
The Ruka World Cup will be held on the 24th–26th. November on channels. The races start on Friday at 10:45 a.m. broadcast by Urheilustudio.