Ismail umar had only played football.
Therefore, the result was surprising: 3,050 meters in Cooper, without any running training. No loop.
The seventh grade of Itäkeskus Elementary School had just run the toughest result in his class. Running felt bad, but he was able to put himself in tight and leave the others behind.
There might be some natural qualities, Ismail wondered.
A sporty talented young man did not become a racing runner, but the spark ignited in martial arts. The motivation was so high that I ammail “Äkki” to workouts.
At about the same time, he noticed that some of the friends had ended up in different circles.
Ismail was also asked to be asked about the sale of drugs. However, he had a negative response and justification immediately ready: in the evening there are training.
– Some of the friends ended up on a slightly different path, and I chose sports. If I had chosen that second path, I wouldn’t be here to give an interview.
Ten years later, Umar, 23, has risen to the top of Finland in amateur boxing.
Umar, who loves sports, was already close to the Paris Olympic dream a year ago. The gaze is now at the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.
The 184 centimeter Umar plays in 63.5 kg.
Umar has set a medal for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.
It is important for development to go to camps abroad and take tough matches.
Born in Somalia, Umar moved to Finland at the age of 2 with his mother. He has lived for most of his life in Itäkeskus, Helsinki.
On a chilly spring Thursday morning at the Itäkeskus Metro Station, Umar rinks in his home corners relaxed with a relaxed beanie deep.
However, this is not a way to hide. He is recognized anyway.
A couple of young people notice Umar immediately on the stairs of the subway station, flashing on the boxer. A few minutes later, the station will be familiar with.
– Are there a lot of your fans here? I ask.
– Well, I’m not here, though Kimi RaikkonenUmar throws.
Umar, who has lived in Itäkeskus for 20 years, is concerned about the situation of young people.
He emphasizes that he has seen how many young people in the area are studying and doing well.
– They must be proud.
According to Umar, some children and young people have too much free time. According to him, the situation has gone worse in the last five years.
– The glorification of street gangs and criminal life has increased, which is sad. Such too much free time is not good at all. These poorly young people have just too much free time.
Umar says he has seen drug use and sale and assault among young people in the Itäkeskus area.
According to him, the problem applies to the whole of Finland.
– Here you can see such little young people who consider themselves criminals and dress differently. And not just in eastern Helsinki.
Umar says he has never been the subject of criminals. It was also easy to say no if asked about such activities.
– Fortunately, I have never been scared. There has always been a feeling that this is wrong and there is no point in this. I wanted to spend my time on other things like sports. Sport has taken me away from bad roads, he emphasizes.
Umar also highlights his mother’s advice: study and choose your friend carefully.
– If I had done such an activity, I would have regretted my mother’s mind, which I never wanted to do.
Umar spends a lot of time with young people.
He runs boxing classes for young people and has been doing teacher replacements in Arabia Elementary School for over a year.
As a teacher, I am relaxed and I get along well with my students. I enjoy them.
Better chances for hobbies
There are many sports facilities in Eastern Helsinki around Itäkeskus.
For example, the area has an ice rink, a swimming pool and a football field. There are plenty of green areas and jogging terrain.
In the area between Itäkeskus and Mellunmäki, you may see Umar running in the morning in the morning.
Umar claims that young people in the area, especially for foreign backgrounds, cannot be fully targeted at sports activities. However, Umar praises youth houses in Eastern Helsinki.
Umar has the feeling that hobbies are too expensive and only football is available. According to Umar, the range of sports is very limited, and many young people have to get out of hobby.
– For example, there is no boxing hall here in Itäkeskus, which could be related to the needy young people. In my opinion, every young person should have the opportunity to exercise and be involved in some club, regardless of money. Too bad someone has to give up their dreams for that.
The message is similar to what endurance runner Mustafe Muuse said a lot in his annoyed sports gala speech in January. Umar also saw Muusen’s speech and sign his points.
According to Umar, young people with an immigrant background do not create enough hope.
“It’s sad,” Umar says.
“Sports gives youth appreciation”
We get out of the metro station and Umar points to the kindergarten and the library next to it. That was his kindergarten and it used to go to the library with a group.
Umar has a lot of good memories of kindergarten times.
There is also a sports mill here, where Umar ran 3,000 meters in the Cooper test ten years ago without running workout.
Umar says that no one came to say that he could become a tough runner.
“I would surely have gone to a try if someone had directed there,” Umar recalls.
Umar always strives to give positive feedback and take into account young people in his own boxing training. He hopes that young people will be encouraged regardless of the background.
– Sports also gives young people appreciate. For many young people, it is certainly important to be valued and respected. Many times sports make you feel like that.
Umar would hardly have become a successful amateur boxer without his current coach Petteri Jeska.
Umar started boxing through Taekwondo and freelance.
Jeskanen saw how well Umar was suitable for boxing. Umar is a reachable and also a left -handed boxer, which is considered an advantage.
I got positive feedback and it got me a fire. It was cool that someone said that I could become something.
Umar says he has always been full of enthusiasm for sports. At a young age, he tuned in front of the television to watch the Olympics – and now Umar was already close to getting to the Olympic Games himself.
Umar has everything in the game about boxing. He says he is practicing professionally and hard.
In his spare time, Umar enjoys boxing videos and is well aware of the history of the sport. Umar knows the top features of old boxers.
The gloss in the eyes light up when he gets to tell Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Robinson match style. The Hagler did not get the crash down in any way and Robinson’s footwork was once clearly ahead of the others.
Training in Metsälä shows how fast Umar’s movements are. The front right hand is looking for its place and hits the training buddy properly.
Umar’s challenge is to get funding in top athletic.
– I don’t have much money. Sometimes I have to make a teacher’s substitute and it affects sports. However, I cannot complain because I can do this on a full time.
Umar recently received a grant of € 6,000 from the Breakthrough Foundation. The money goes to foreign camps and racing trips.
– I rarely get such a lot of scholarships. We were really grateful for it.
Umar says it has been difficult for him to get sponsors.
– Many times sponsors are such that they are obtained through familiar ones. These are very difficult things. Unless you are a guy with 100,000 followers on Instagram.