Back problems have hampered the training of the balance beam gymnast Emil Soravuo. The main goal of the Finnish men’s team is to finish in the top 13 at the European Championships.
The EC medals in floor gymnastics are competed for during the EC week in Munich. The men’s gymnastic competition starts on August 18 with a six-match event. follows the World Cup week on Areena, TV2 and on the competition page.
The Finnish men’s national balance beam team will travel to the European Championships in Munich on Sunday. The biggest star of the team is the one who won the World Championship bronze in October Emil Soravuo. After the success at the World Championships, Soravuo’s motivation has been at its peak, but the stress fracture in his back diagnosed at the beginning of the year has made it difficult for the athlete to train.
– Now I’ve gotten in shape for the European Championships, although of course it’s taken its toll and I’ve had to take a few painkillers because of my back.
Soravuo’s head stand permanto is really taxing on the back. After the injury was diagnosed, Soravuo had to stop training completely for the first six weeks. For the past two months, Soravuo has been able to train normally again.
Due to a stress fracture, Soravuo’s EC series is easier compared to the World Championships. The goal is therefore only the cleanest performance possible. As a result, he aims for a maximum of one point reduction in one series. In this important position are the lower incomes.
– I had time to get the series in order for the European Championship and I was rewarded so that I can join this European Championship team, so it’s great to go compete in prestigious championships again after a year.
A place in the European Championships is hardly a mere prize for Soravuo, because the team’s head coach Timo Holopainen says that the athlete has full chances to reach the finals of the prestigious competition again.
– Every time Emil does gymnastics, there is a chance for the final. In the European Championships, the result depends a lot on the steps. Due to the amount of training, the European Championship series is not so challenging, but there is always a chance of a medal in the final. It’s such a tough competitor, Holopainen describes.
For a cold-headed athlete, the World Championship bronze gave him enormous self-confidence, and Soravuo does not experience great tension in competitive situations.
– Although at the moment, for example, it feels like I haven’t been able to do modern sets for a long time, I know that I can perform under pressure as well as in training, says Soravuo.
The athlete’s main goal is to make it to the Paris Olympics. In order to get there, Soravuo’s personal goals are the 2024 World Cup in balance beam gymnastics, with the two best athletes getting a place in the Olympics. However, there are also other possible routes to the Olympics, and the first of them is the World Championships in the fall. Olympic places are not allocated at the European Championships.
– Of course, the long-term goal is that I want to make it to the Paris Olympics, but because of this back, I have to see how each week feels and whether I can start practicing new movements. Let’s see one week at a time.
Finland’s five-member men’s national balance beam gymnastics team heads to Munich on Sunday. They compete in the six-match European Championships Oskar Kirmes, Robert Kirmes and Elias Koski. Emil Soravuo competes in Munich only with permanent and Tarmo Kanerva on horse, rings, jumping, poles and sled.
The European Championships are important for Finland from the point of view of the World Championships starting at the end of October. In the team competition, Finland’s goal is to finish in the top 13, as this also enables the men to qualify for the World Cup in Liverpool. The Finnish women competed in Munich already on Thursday and secured a place in the World Cup by finishing 10th.
– In addition, we are going to apply for places in the bracket finals. This year there is no match final separately, so we will start from there to get the best possible ranking and then if we make it to the bracket final, we can even get a medal there, Sports Manager of the Gymnastics Association Kasper Holopainen evaluate.
In the European Championships, the best results of three athletes are calculated for the team’s total result. According to the head of sport, the goal of being among the top 13 is challenging, but possible. Four years ago, Finland was ranked 21st in the European Championships. Without a place in the top 13, Finland can only send two six-players to Liverpool.
In the video, Emil Soravuo talks about the good team spirit of the men’s gymnastics team.