The European Championships for under-23s will be held in Espoo on the 13th-16th. July. shows the races live. See shipping information here.
2018 European Under-18 Athletics Championships, Györ. 16-year-old Jessica Kähärä stretches for bronze in the triple jump with his record of 13.29.
A little over an hour later, the versatile athletics talent takes EC silver from a height. This time too with a record (183).
Five years later, in the GP race in Jyväskylä, Kähärä again impresses with his contracting. In the long jump, a new hard record of 647 is created. On that side, he improves his 100-meter hurdles record twice (13.31 & 13.30).
The examples aptly reflect Kähärä’s talent. However, versatility also creates a tricky dilemma.
Which sport should you invest in as an adult athlete? In which sport would it be possible to reach the absolute top of the world?
In the case of 21-year-old Kähärä, the number one sport has been found through several twists and turns. It required one trial in the youth championship halls.
First, however, you need to figure out how you got to the current point.
Promising high jump career
In 2019, it seemed that Jessica Kähärä’s future is strongly in high jumping. He jumped the Finnish youth record 190 in the SM halls of Kuopio and made his adult competition debut in the EC halls.
He and Ella Junnila formed a high-level high jump duo.
Like so many promising young track and field athletes, Kähärä has also had enough ups and downs.
A few years ago, Kähärä’s development was hindered by an ankle problem. Nilkka went in the 2021 European Under-23 Championship, and the young woman’s season was over. He ended up on the operating table, where a long rehabilitation period began.
– The youth competition period has made me grow a lot as a person. Sports are like this. Adversity is part of that, Kähärä says.
The ankle could withstand high jumping, but the athlete does not want to take any risks.
– However, it is such a hard sport for the ankle. The structure of my foot is such that it exposes me to ankle injuries. The height effort comes at such an angle that it is a risk to the ankle. Longitudinal jumps have never had any problems. Height is the only sport where I have had injuries.
From trial to medal favourite
So the high jump mattresses were allowed to stay. Last year, he invested in the long jump and hurdles.
Because of the ankle, Kähärä was careful for a long time about triple jumping, which is a tough sport for the legs.
Kähärä and his trainer Janne Avela however, they did an interesting experiment at the Oulu Junior Championship in the winter. Kähärä jumped his first triple jump competition in two and a half years.
The result was a new record of 13.56. Kähärä calls the competition decision an ex tempore idea.
– It went just fine without training. We had a meeting with the coach after the hall season about what to do now. I thought I wanted to focus on triple jump and long jump.
Kähärä had as an ulterior motive in his choice the under-23 European Championships in athletics, which will be organized this week at the Leppävaara field in Espoo. Participation in both sports is possible according to the schedule. At the beginning of the competition is the triple jump and at the end is the long jump.
The result of 13.56 without any proper investment was a glimpse of Kähärä’s potential. It brings us closer to the top places in the age group.
In the summer, Kähärä has improved its stations for its home European championships. In two races, he has improved his record by 31 cents to 13.87, which justifies him in the age group statistics instead of four. Above is Spain Maria Vicente and only two Swedes.
In Espoo, Kähärä has every opportunity to win the European championship. Two years ago, gold was won with a score of 14.09.
– 14 meters is a goal that would be interesting. It will certainly be a tough competition. Value competitions are always value competitions. Sweden is a good example Maja Åskag, who dramatically improved his record in the under-20 European Championships during one competition. If you can get such a flow mode on, everything is possible.
Fascinating view
Kähärä’s decision to bet on the triple jump is a very fascinating move. Kristiina Mäkelä and Senni Salminen have proven in recent years that Finns can succeed, especially at the brightest level in Europe.
Mäkelä, who won EC silver last summer with a SE jump of 14.64, has competed four times in the Olympic and World Cup finals. Salminen, on the other hand, has risen to the top of Europe.
Uphill coaching Tuomas Sallinen assessed before the outdoor track season for Urheilu that Kähärä’s chances of success are more realistic in the triple jump than in the long jump.
– A good light-built and resilient type of jumper. There is no need to make big changes in the jump in order for 14 meters to be in the fork, Sallinen refers to this summer.
Director of coaching and training of the Finnish Sports Association Jarkko Finni is on the same lines as Salline. Finni was delighted with Kähärä’s winter triple jump experiment.
– When you think about international success, that is Jessica’s best sport in the future. He has done everything, which is a good route, but yes, jumping probably has the best conditions for success.
However, the most important thing is how the athlete himself experiences it. Kähärä has understood the view himself.
– I know that when you jump 14 meters in the European Championships, you are in the final. I know there are grits to it. It has been thought through that too.
However, Kähärä reminds us that the length acts as a good counterweight to the triple jump.
– Ukraine is a good example Maryna Beh–Romanchuk, who competes in both long jump and triple jump competitions. There are examples of those too.
The goal is an Olympic medal
It is almost impossible to assess the absolute potential of a promising young athlete. Especially an athlete like Kähärä, who after a long break is seriously aiming for the triple jump.
Former top triple jumper and current coach Johan Meriluoto however, he is not afraid to think about Kähärä’s future outlook.
– The triple jump quite often works the same as runways. When you get back on track, the fork can be 50 centimeters. I don’t think 15 meters is an unattainable limit for him.
15 meters is the reading in the women’s triple jump, which is used for Olympic and World Championship medals from one race to another.
According to Meriluoto, Kähärä’s speed and physical characteristics would already be enough for 15 meters.
– However, it doesn’t mean anything at all. You have to know how to use them better and better. It takes time.
In athletics, Kähärä’s long-term dream has always been to achieve a prestigious adult competition medal. Perhaps without realizing it, he will become a mention of the biggest things that can be achieved in athletics.
– My career goal is to get to the Olympics and take a medal there. Otherwise, prestigious competitions, such as the World Cup and European Championship, are the goal. For example, next summer there will be the European Championships, which would be a good stepping stone. First a place in the final and then a medal.
The hunger is strong, but Kähärä realizes that there is no rush.
– There are many good things here, maybe even ten years left. There’s a lot of competition for prize medals.
The ex tempore idea of Kähärä and the coach’s hall period could very well have led to the brink of gold. A really interesting chapter is underway in Finnish athletics.