The fact that Finland will get a representative to the World Championships in women’s high jump is not a given. But the fact that there are no less than three Finnish representatives in the sport at the World Championships in Eugene is already historic.
Ella Junnila, 23, is, despite his young age, an experienced competitor. Instead, those who made it to the World Cup team Heta Tuuri27, and Sini Lälä28, are now preparing for their first adult competition.
Both Tuuri and Lällä’s place in the World Championships came as a bit of a surprise, as their main goal has only been in August’s European Championships. However, after the Midsummer weekend in Oulu, it started to dawn on both of them that the World Championships are also possible through the ranking. Tuuri was ranked 29th in the final ranking and Lälä was ranked 30th, when the best 32 got in.
Both Tuuri’s and Lälä’s road from being a youth competition representative to becoming an adult competition debutant has been long, and also tortuous.
– I have always wanted to prove to myself that I can compete at a high level. I’ve had difficult periods behind me and I’ve been in pretty deep waters at times. When you think about how far I’ve come, it feels good, says Lälä.
Mental strength through disappointments
Heta Tuuri and Sini Lälä have been competing together and against each other since they were juniors. Both were involved in Finland’s under-19 European Championship final in Rieti, Italy. The following year, Tuuri made it to the World Championships in the same age group in Eugene, and Lälä jumped in the under-22 European Championship finals in Tallinn a year later, but after that the duo almost disappeared for a few years.
Tuuri moved to the United States for four years seven years ago. He studied at the University of Minnesota and the competition calendar was built according to the NCAA of college sports, so his fitness peaks did not coincide with the domestic games.
Tuuri admits that athletically the time in Minnesota was not a success, as his best result from those times was 182. The results were influenced, among other things, by the fact that his coach was more of an expert in throwing sports than a jumping coach.
– However, there were some things left over from there, with which I have been able to jump these higher jumps. There was a lot of good, but some things could have gone differently, Tuuri reflects.
In addition to the fact that Tuuri got his architecture degree papers, his time at university was a time of independence and growth for him. As an athlete, he was able to enjoy almost perfect conditions, because everything was already arranged: medical services, physical therapy, massages, travel and competitions. All the athlete had to do was show up.
Instead, communication with the coach remained poor.
– In Finland, I am used to the fact that the coach supports the athlete and sees what is happening outside. In the US, coaches tried in vain to be authorities instead of having an open discussion.
Tuuri says that he grew a lot mentally as an athlete during that time, perhaps precisely because the trip offered a lot of disappointments. When the coach had several athletes to coach, Tuuri had to deal with his disappointments himself.
– Maybe at that point I have understood that this is just sport. Sport is not the whole of life and nowadays I can enjoy it more. Of course there are still disappointments, but how to overcome them has been the biggest change.
The injury cycle could not be stopped
Sini Lälä was in a great jumping mood seven years ago, and the expectations for the future were high. In the next government period, however, a bad cycle of injuries began, which lasted for several years.
First, plantar fasciitis, i.e. degeneration of the tendon membrane of the sole of the foot, came on his left, pushing foot. The problem recurred during the summer and caused stress osteopathy in the left metatarsal. Lälä was initially misdiagnosed with the injury, as it was believed to be just a contusion, and this delayed healing.
When Lälä had finally recovered from this precursor to a stress fracture, a small ligament in his knee snapped during a calf jumping exercise.
– One injury always led to another. No terribly serious injuries, but small ones that prevented important jumping training, Lälä recalls.
Although the injuries were frustrating, Lälä didn’t think about quitting. He wanted the career to end someday by his own decision. For the first time, he thought about quitting only after the injuries had already been sorted out.
– I had been able to train when I was healthy and I knew I was in good shape, but I didn’t get anything done in the summer. At that time I was selling spikes.
However, Lälä was supported by the knowledge that there is potential in him. When he jumped his then-record 184 before his injuries, he was jumping with a lot of air. The borders had not yet come.
Small, simple things brought us forward
Both Heta Tuuri and Sini Lälä have improved their records both indoors and outdoors this season. Lälä’s indoor score of 190 is third on Finland’s all-time list, and Tuur’s 188 is eighth. Both have now jumped 190 outdoors and share sixth place on this all-time list.
There are small, simple things behind both of their records, but one of the most important things has been that both have been able to train for the last three years healthy.
Small changes have been made to Tuuri’s technique, his physical characteristics have progressed and he has been able to utilize them in his technique. In addition, Tuuri took a mental coaching course last fall, the lessons of which he has now learned both on the training and competition fields.
– On the mental side, I’ve been able to be better present in what I’m doing and completing the competition. The kind of pressure that I once created for myself has disappeared, says Tuuri.
The CEO of Pajulahti Sports Center has been responsible for Tuuri’s coaching for years Mikko Levola. When Tuuri moved to Turku a couple of years ago, he joined the coaching team Susann Sundkvist. In his own career, Sundkvist won six consecutive Finnish high jump championships and improved Finnish records on several occasions.
According to Tuuri, Sundkvist’s sports and physiotherapist background has been helpful, such as the fact that he has been able to be more present in training.
– He knows what jumping from a high place requires and what kind of sacrifices have to be made for it. We have also been able to find a balance so that there is not too much sport.
Sini has been responsible for Lälä’s coaching for the past four years Seppo Haavistowho in his own career was a long-time representative of national competitions and achieved, among other things, three indoor championships and a Finnish record.
The duo’s collaboration started with a clean slate, as Lälä had recovered from his injuries at the time, but the long absence from real action had brought the results to rock bottom. The first year was spent rebuilding Lälä’s features.
Haavisto has found a good way for Lällä to train. In his coaching, he emphasizes the sports aspect and in training we always think about how it would be good to do it from the perspective of high jumping. Even in the basic fitness period, when a lot of targeted training is done, the thought must not disappear.
– When you do the amount during the basic fitness period, as if “brainless”, it is precisely then that you have to have the thought involved, because through repetitions you will get the right movement pattern, Lälä reminds.
Junnila was a good trendsetter
Mutual competition has pushed Heta Tuuri and Sini Lälä forward this summer as well. A good example of that is the competition in Oulu, where the duo organized a real thriller and where Lälä took an important victory in terms of ranking with his record result.
– In some competitions, the mutual competition is a bit infuriating. But I know that if Sini is coming, it will be a tough race and I will get extra adrenaline from it, says Tuuri.
– There is nothing personal about it, but when you know someone so well, you really want to win.
Läkä still remembers the times when a score of 180 was already at the top of the competition. Today, the situation is completely different, and especially Tuuri has made Lälä hard in important competitions.
– I remember when in the indoor WC it seemed that Heta always went over so that I had to go too, Llä recalls with a smile the race that ended with a record high and the championship.
– It’s a completely different situation to be jumping alone when the others have already fallen. When there is competition all the time, it drives you forward.
According to Tuuri, today’s top jumpers discuss with each other which competitions they will participate in, so that the domestic competitions are of a good enough standard and the jumpers do not necessarily have to go abroad.
– Ella has been a good trendsetter. When you see someone up close jump that high, you realize that it’s not impossible. That mental barrier has now been broken many times and the sky is actually open, Tuuri describes.
Both Tuuri and Lälä believe that Junnila can also guide them past the pitfalls of the World Cup. The experiences of EC, WC and Olympic visitors are such a valuable advantage that it is worth using them. As first timers, the two also receive valuable peer support from each other.
The Finnish jumpers go to the first adult competition with moderate expectations, as they are in the shared 38th place in the season’s world list. Both expect a tough improvement program in the qualifiers, but stretching to the record is possible for them.
– Of course, the final would be quite the jackpot, but I’m satisfied if I can focus on my performance. That the focus does not go to what others are doing. If I’m present in what I’m doing, then I should be flying high, says Tuuri.
In Lälä’s opinion, every ranking that he improves from his ranking position is on the way home. He knows his condition is on point, so there are opportunities.
– I’m going there to enjoy myself, because I’ve always wanted to go to big games like that. I’ve never been outside of Europe, so everything is completely new. But luckily, Heta and Ella are there to support me.