Keijo Haavikko, who knows Matti Heikkinen well, believes that the skiing world champion will not be left behind in tough sports politics. Samppa Lajunen also believes that Heikkinen will be successful in the top pesti.
16:19•Updated 16:29
Ex-cross-country skier Matti Heikkinen was elected on Tuesday as the new director of the elite sports unit of the Finnish Olympic Committee. The 38-year-old Heikkinen previously worked at GRK Group as marketing and communications director. He worked at pesti since last fall.
The group’s vice president Keijo Haavikko has known Heikkinen for about 15 years. GRK was Heikkinen’s sponsor during his skiing career.
During his career, Heikkinen achieved, among other things, the world championship in 2011 and lesser medals. According to Haaviko, Heikkinen’s tough professional approach to his sports career has also been reflected in his working life.
– He is results-oriented. He’s not just at work, he’s doing things the way they should. He is no weather vane.
– When Matti told me that he had been asked for such a position, I definitely encouraged him. On the other hand, I said that the door is always open back. However, the Olympic Committee’s chest is a windy place.
What are Heikkinen’s greatest strengths at the top level of sports?
– Planning and the desire to do new things. He has learned that you shouldn’t copy what others are doing. You should do it yourself and use your own common sense. I think that there is a good chance for Mati to show renewal also in the Olympic Committee and in top sports.
– Isn’t the school of life what teaches? No one is completely ready for any task, but the situation teaches. You must have the ability to think in a changing situation. I think that is Mati’s strength. He can immediately react to change and sees new opportunities. He is also not afraid to try, Haavikko adds.
Common sense is the answer to politicking
Before joining GRK, Heikkinen worked for some time Sampa Lajunen In Samla Capital real estate investment company. Lajunen is also a former top athlete. He is a three-time combined Olympic champion.
According to Lajunen, Heikkinen is an excellent choice for the position of director of the elite sports unit.
– I believe that Mati has the necessary knowledge, skill and experience for the task. He has good starting points, Lajunen commented to Urheilu.
Heikkinen ended his career more than three years ago. Some may think that the 38-year-old Heikkinen has not accumulated enough work experience. However, Haavikko reminds us that a working career is also an important part of the life of a top athlete at the top level.
– Playing sports is also a full-time job. For athletes, it affects that a different kind of working life only comes later. Sport is definitely a purposeful thing to do if you are on top of the world. In that sense, I would say that Mati has a very long career behind him.
Haavikko thinks that one of the challenges in the new party is politicking.
– There are certainly different challenges when you have a different task and have to deal with a different stakeholder group. There is also politics involved.
Can Matti answer politics?
– Yes surely. It’s common sense to solve these issues.
Heikkinen will start his position on September 1.