Big Finnish wrestling news came out of Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday evening. Lahti Ahkera’s mind Arvi Savolainen wrestled brilliantly in the last Olympic qualifying tournament.
Savolainen, 25, got Finland – practically for himself – a place in the Paris Olympics. In his third qualifying match in Istanbul, which decided the place, the 97-kilogram Savolainen defeated Japan Yuri Nakazato in chapters 4–2.
Already in the first Olympic qualifying tournament in Baku, Finland got a place to wrestle in Paris. It was redeemed by the 77-kilogram man Jonni Sarkkinenwho was named to the Paris Olympic team on April 22.
Savolainen tends to be tough when his back is against the wall. In the last opportunity to claim an Olympic place, Savolainen showed his claws. In their opening match, they beat Kyrgyzstan By Uzur Dzhuzupbekov I counted 2–0 and in his second fight took a handsomely superior points victory 9–1 Croatia Filip from Smetko.
Everything was crowned by the victory over the Japanese that brought the place to Paris. After that, the relieved but also exhausted wrestler marched to ‘s interview.
– It’s been a long spring here. I wouldn’t have wanted to come all the way here to get this, but we did, and at the end, thank you stands. Glad you came.
When the whistle blew in honor of the decisive victory, the emotion was not immediately unleashed.
– Well, of course, it felt good, even though for a while I was so upset that I didn’t smile. Now I’m starting to smile.
Japan’s Nakazato was not, in Savolainen’s words, “a Greek sculpture” or otherwise a wrestler with the best qualities.
– But the style is even more boring. It was really difficult. After the first round, I was really blown away when the guy managed to do tricks, and I felt like my style didn’t work.
Savolainen, who wrestles in the 97-kilogram category, was at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 for the first time. At that time, Savolainen was considered a medal hope, but he lost to Iran in the bronze medal match Mohammad Hadi Saravi. The final ranking was therefore fifth.
Since then, Savolainen has had enough of some kind of difficulties. The main goal of 2022, the World Championships, was completely missed due to a wrist injury in training. At the end of 2021, he had a heart operation due to severe arrhythmias.
In the fall of 2023, Savolainen was severely disappointed by his defeat in the World Championships, when the Olympic place was also unclaimed. So now that the Olympic place has finally been released, its significance is enormous.
– A wrestler lives off the Olympics. Yes, it is the place where the level is measured. It’s really hard to get there in our sport, but it’s a big opportunity.
There are hardly any bigger parties than the Olympic venue.
– Yes, we have to take a moment now. The first races at the beginning of January, since then the screw has been tight. Now you have to relax for a while.
Elias Kuosmanen furious: “Catastrophe”
Also Elias Kuosmanen participated in the Tokyo Olympics. He made a tough decision before and switched to the heavyweight division, when Savolainen stood in the way of an Olympic place in the 97-kilogram category.
Now Kuosmanen was left without an Olympic place. Helsinki’s Haka mortar started well. Kuosmanen, who is now wrestling in the 130-kilogram category, defeated Georgia nicely 5–0 Iakobi Kajaian.
However, Kuosmanen lost his second match to the Belarusian To Pavel Hlintshukwho took an overwhelming point victory over the Finn 13–3.
After the match, Kuosmanen was furious with himself.
– The guy was faster and more agile, could make up for my mistakes. A disaster.
At the time of the interview, Kuosmanen did not yet know whether a place would open up through the collection lots to continue the hunt for an Olympic place.
– Now I’m damn disappointed. You can’t wrestle that badly if you want to go to the Olympics. The place of long staring into the mirror.
In the end, Kuosmanen was unable to continue his job. He succinctly described his decisive match.
– Went on the wrong track. The guy got to wrestle all the time in the lead position, I had to take risks. A skilled guy, but he should be able to handle things like that. A really bad show.
Also Ilmajoki Matias Lipasti got off to a great start at 67kg by defeating the two-time world champion from South Korea Hans Ryu. Lipasti won thanks to the last performance point, after the match ended 1–1.
In the second match, Lipast’s Olympic dream fell, when the Chinese Lei Li took the 3-3 tie just five seconds before the wrestler’s time expired.
in 87-kilogram ones Walter Latvala lost their only remaining match against the Netherlands To Marcel Sterkenburg with numbers 1–9.
The head coach said: “Such mouthfuls”
Finland’s head coach Juha Lappalainen was excited about Savolainen’s Olympic place.
– I trusted Arvi like a mountain, but the Japanese was a very difficult guy. It was a bit stressful, but the credit was strong.
The head coach didn’t have any party plans either.
– I can not say. Arvi will at least take a doping test. Let’s celebrate there.
On the other hand, Lappalainen’s moods were divided.
– At the beginning, of course, there were great feelings when we found out that we have a team going to Paris, two wrestlers. Then it started to get sad when Kuosmanen didn’t get to fight for an Olympic place anymore. Previously, the same thing happened to Lipasti. Jätki would have had a lot more to give.
Lappalainen said that he already experienced the biggest relief when Jonni Sarkkinen made sure that Finland has at least one place in Paris. It came as a surprise, because the expectation was the Olympic spots in the 97-kilogram and heavyweight categories.
Savolainen-Sarkkinen’s head coach described the two going to Paris through humor.
– Well, they are such mouthpieces that you don’t know if the coaching gets a turn at all.
The greatest importance of the Olympic venue is of course for the athletes themselves, but in a small sport there are other effects as well.
– Of course, it’s a place where we can be more visible and I believe that we will be successful. Just add more wrestlers to the ring, this is a great sport, Lappalainen threw.
– Well, if you pass this screening and get a place, you can go in a good mood to chase medals. Of course, it requires a perfect day there as well, Lappalainen described the possibilities in Paris’ molsks.