Leo-Pekka Tähti and Amanda Kotaja aim for the brightest medals in the 100 meters of the World Para Athletics Championships. In the 400 meters, both roller stars have their sights set on places in the finals.
Henri Kaukonen,
Bettina Törnvall
The World Championships in Para-athletics start on Saturday in Paris. Chasing his fifth World Championship gold Leo-Pekka Tähti races the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter distances.
The Suomalaistahtahti describes his condition as suitably uncertain just before the world championships.
– There have been small fluctuations with the start and small technical problems. But then when you get to go, things get tough.
Despite the technical problems, Tähti heads to Paris with confidence.
– At Satase, my goal is definitely to fight for the world championship. Several guys have gone below 14 seconds, so the race will be quite tight. The mood of the day will decide a lot.
In the 400 meters, the track runner from Pori is aiming for a place in the finals, which would probably require a Finnish record. The Finnish record in the name of the star is 46.73.
For Tähti, the races culminate in an 800-meter race, which can be described as a tactical distance of winding.
– In the 800 meters, I’m looking for a technically and tactically good performance without unnecessary hesitation. Let’s try to hang in there and see what the finishing position is.
Tähti has already announced that next year’s Paris Paralympics will be the curler’s last competition at the top.
– The competition career will probably continue after Paris, but not quite at this level. However, I really enjoy competing, and the spirit of competition does not disappear anywhere.
In addition to curling, Tähti, who has made a name for herself in basketball as well, is not about to change her mind at the moment, even if she takes home the sixth Paralympic gold of her career from the Paralympics in Paris.
– It would be good to stop there, but now let’s take these races one at a time. I have to have a realistic chance to win a gold medal, to be able to push myself to this point at this age. Everything looks fine at the moment.
The four best by categories of the sports on the Paralympic program of the World Cup secure a place at the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics.
Kotaja wants the best winders to the starting line
Amanda Kotaja in May, he set a new European record and the world’s top score of 15.36 with a hundred. The time set in the Swiss GP race is only one hundredth away by Tatyana McFadden of the world record.
– The tough early summer creates self-confidence for the World Championships. I hope that the condition has not disappeared anywhere, Kotaja laughs.
There were changes in Kotaja’s coaching team at the beginning of the year, which is now reflected in the results. In the spring, a Dutchman joined the coaching team Arno Mulin, in whose teachings Kotaja has changed the training and the winding position. Previously worked as a responsible coach Jussi-Pekka Kurtti continued as Kotaja’s physical trainer. Kotaja told STT that with the new lessons, winding is even more economical and the physics built up over the years is better transmitted to the rim of the bike than before.
After a great start to the summer, Kotaja has only one goal at the 100 meters in Paris: a gold medal.
In the 100 meters, Kotaja’s toughest challengers come from China. McFadden’s participation in Kotaja’s trip to the kingdom is, on the other hand, uncertain. However, the Finnish bowler would like to see the best bowlers at the starting line.
– The more good girls we get on the line, the better the race will surely be.
In Paris, Kotaja competes not only in the 100 meters but also in the 400 meters, where a new Finnish record was set in June. In Paris, the goal is a place in the final.
– After the final place, everything is a plus.
However, there is little recovery time for the 400 meters, as the distance is contested only one day after the 100 meters.
The World Para Athletics Championships will be held in Paris from July 8 to 17. will show the games from Tuesday 11.7. from Shipping information can be found here.