Ex-alpine skier Tanja Poutiainen-Rinne was a trendsetter in her sport and a pioneer for Finnish female skiers. He did the same for Finnish biathlon Kaisa Mäkäräinen sensitizes Mäkäräinen and Petra Ollin in the latest episode of the Jatkoerä series starring to praise the Finnish alpine skiing legend.
– You were an idol and a role model for me. I wanted to do the same for Finland, Mäkäräinen begins.
At the beginning of the 2000s, Poutiainen-Rinne was one of Finland’s most famous winter athletes. The skier from Rovaniemi really broke through in the 2004-2005 season, when he was crowned the winner of both the slalom and the giant slalom overall cup. In the same season, he won two World Championship silver medals.
One of the star moments was the silver in the giant slalom at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He won four World Championship medals. In technical sports, he celebrated the victory of the overall competition three times and scored 11 times to win the competition.
– I was so in love with my sport. I wanted biathlon to have entered Finns’ living rooms through me. In the end, I succeeded quite well, Mäkäräinen continues.
Ex-wrestler Petra Olli acknowledges Mäkäräinen’s modest comment immediately.
– Quite well?
Mäkäräinen wanted to be a pioneer in his sport like Poutiainen-Rinte.
– You were the name and face of Finnish alpine skiing, says Mäkäräinen.
Poutiainen is moved by Mäkäräinen’s words right in front of his eyes and, in turn, cheers on the ex-biathlon skier who is three years younger.
– Good to hear. I feel that you have done the same for Finnish biathlon. There are quite a few female pioneers in their respective sports, Poutiainen-Rinne refers to her, Mäkäräinen and Olli.
Balancing
Mäkäräinen and Olli get to know the slopes of alpine skiing under the guidance of Poutiainen-Rinte. The sport requires good coordination.
Balance training on an exercise ball is an excellent dry workout for alpine skiing.
– Although we have to be strong and flexible, balance and coordination are at the heart of everything in our sport. In alpine skiing, it is important to do things with your eyes closed in all balance training.
– No one calculates a flawless calculation on the hill. The one who corrects mistakes the best and fastest wins, Poutiainen-Rinne adds.
According to Mäkäräinen’s own experience, exercises related to balance have not been a big part of biathlon training, at least not before.
– A certain kind of old-fashioned skiing coaching has not emphasized it in any way. Many skiers can be strong in the gym, but they don’t necessarily know how to transfer it to the slopes.
A new passion
Poutiainen-Rinne, who ended her sports career in the spring of 2014, devoted 34 years of her life to alpine skiing. Since then, he has found a new passion.
Poutiainen-Rinne works for a company that specializes in, for example, the rehabilitation of athletes.
– The fact that I help both athletes and active people to rehabilitate from their injury is a new passion for me, and I put my energy into it like crazy.
Poutiainen-Rinne fell violently in the 2013 season and injured her knee.
– Fortunately, I have experienced injuries. It gives depth to helping another in a different way. I know those sorrows and disappointments. I can create faith that even after an injury you can return to the top of the world, as long as you have motivation and the right people to help you.
Longing for the Olympics
Poutiainen-Rinne went through no less than five Olympic Games during her career. In the 1998 Nagano Games, the Finnish calculator competed when he was only 17 years old.
The last Olympics were the 2014 Sochi Games. He was 12th in slalom.
Poutiainen-Rinne is remembered as an athlete who, after the race, changed her performance to a calm and analytical tone. Mäkäräinen says that Poutiainen-Rinte was imaged as a cool guy.
Petra Olli, who went to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with the greatest expectations, broke down in tears at ‘s interview point after a fatal losing match. They were Olli’s first and last Olympics as an athlete.
After the last Olympic descent, emotions also surfaced on Poutiainen-Rinte.
– I was ending my good career, but at the same time I felt a strong longing for it. When I toured the international media, I was still the cool Tanja. However, with the Finnish media, the same feelings surfaced as you did in Rio.
– I’ll stop here and this was my last Olympic race. I will never aim for anything again in value competitions, Poutiainen recalls deeply.
The calm guy explodes
Poutiainen-Rinne had twins in 2016. Being a mother has brought out new aspects.
– I wasn’t on the hill after a bad fall, the one who bangs sticks, throws things or curses. I do everything I can for the kids and they just whine. Of course, it is very normal for children. They make me boil from zero to a hundred.
– It’s a trait that I haven’t had before. I get really hot and explode, which I’ve never done in my sports career. It’s confusing. Through children, new features are discovered.
Watch the latest Jatkoerä episode