Athletics EC Championships 7.6–12.6. Ylen channels. Moukari qualifiers today from 11.05. See all shipping information here.
Almost ten years ago, javelin throwers at the European Championships in Zurich Antti Ruuskanen and Tero Pitkämäki both won medals. Since then, even one prestigious medal in athletics has been a source of great joy.
Now in Rome, Finland has for a long time had one such sport where you can expect two medals. Scoundrel thrower Silja Kosonen21, is an athlete who, despite his young age, has proven himself to be a strong competitor.
He has been fifth in the European Championships. Fifth and seventh in the World Championships. In terms of performance reliability, Koso can be considered the number one player in Europe at the moment.
Kosonen also gets a lot of media attention on the subject. Instead, confusingly little has been discussed about the sport’s other domestic stars, the three longest arc throwers in Finland Krista Tervoa.
However, it is the eighth of the European Championships and the tenth of the World Championships. There haven’t been too many athletes like this in Finnish athletics during the 21st century.
As if as a reminder of his existence, two weeks ago in the last round of the Lahti GP Games, Tervo set a Finnish record of 74.63 and became a medal candidate for the European Championships in Rome.
However, it was a small thing that this sports story would have been completely overlooked.
Accidentally become a scumbag thrower
Born in Kotka in late 1997, Tervo was involved in several athletics as a child. Throwing sports were, however, unfamiliar to the girl who was more into endurance running.
According to Tervo, he accidentally became a potter. He competed in the 2,000-meter run at his first World Championships.
– A representative was needed for the throwing of the athletics club cup. There was no one else. I had never touched a moukari, or any throwing device, Tervo recalls with a laugh.
His current and long-time coach held the first throwing exercises Jukka Vihtonen.
– I asked if he could show me the basics so that I could stay in the ring, Tervo laughs more.
So, without the club cup competition, you would never have become a pitcher?
– No way! Good thing I had heard about the whole sport.
For the first two years, he only competed in the club cup finals. After that, he changed Karhula to Katajais, where he had the opportunity to attend throwing practice once a week.
A historic throw
70 meters was a difficult mark for Finnish female javelin throwers for a long time. For example Merja Korpela chased for years by Mia Strömmer SE 69.63 (2001) but without success.
In the end, it took a woman who discovered the sport by chance to break the boundaries.
In June 2019, in Jyväskylä, Tervo threw his first Finnish record of 70.18. Two years earlier, he had won for the first time in the Kaleva Games after defeating Korpela, who had dominated the sport for a long time.
He was fourth in the Junior World Championships. Although success had come, it was only after the first 70-meter throw that Tervo realized that he could create a career as a shot putter.
– At that point, all the doors were open. I just enjoy sports without performance pressure, says Tervo.
Now Tervo has broken the 70 meter limit no less than 46 times. A lot has changed in five years anyway, because in addition to Tervo, three athletes have broken the limit: Kosonen (74.19), Suvi Koskinen (71,10) and Sara Killinen (71.02).
To become a better competitor
Tervo threw the top throw (74.40) for Finns already two years ago in Portugal. Although there have been real spikes, the career has been marked by unevenness.
Tervo, who entered the finals as a medal favorite in the under-23 European Championship, fell far short of the top spots. In the adult competition, he initially had difficulty throwing at his own level.
On the other hand, it is wrong to talk about Tervo as an athlete who does not succeed in prestigious competitions. Two years ago, at the World Championships in Eugene, he overcame his qualifying hurdles by finishing third and the second-longest throw of his career at the time, 73.83. The year 2022 was overall the best of his Finnish career so far.
Tervo has worked hard to make him better and more consistent in the competition.
– I really enjoy competing. It just had to be practiced. When I was young, I wasn’t terribly good at it and I got stressed, Tervo admits.
Tervo has been assisted by a sports psychologist.
– On the other hand, spiritual growth has helped. When you get older, you can approach things differently.
“The medal is the goal”
Tervo’s performance level has fluctuated since the beginning of the season. In the EC general in Pärnu, Estonia, he had a modest result, 67.95.
In Rome, it is therefore very possible that Tervo will miss the qualification or, equivalently, win the EC gold. From Tervo’s point of view, the fact that many of the top Europeans are in a similar situation brings a feeling of relief.
For example, the top of European statistics, Moldovan Zalina Marghieva has managed 75.95, but the second best is 71.12. Last season, he was completely without 70-meter throws.
– There are many women who can throw for medals. It is steady, but the others also have a lot of volatility. You can’t say anything about the situation in advance.
Tervo has already experienced the point.
– You don’t go there to get points. A medal is the goal. The first most important goal is to get through the qualification with honor, Tervo knows.
A prankster
Silja Kosonen, who has become a good friend of Tervo’s, is one of Tervo’s fiercest opponents in the European Championships. On race trips, they are roommates.
At last year’s Sports Gala, they spent time together in the same company, including the 7-match star Saga Vannisen with.
– Silja is a top guy. We like the same things. It’s great to have found such a person in sports.
Together with Kosonen, they play Fortnite with a playpen. In his free time, Tervo is also interested in photography.
Tervo conveys an image of a person who knows how to laugh at himself.
– I don’t take life too seriously. Of course, sport means a lot to me. Maybe I have a hidden emotional side that I don’t show. It’s nice to say that you still enjoy this to the fullest. This is just as fun as when I was young.