Leo-Pekka Tähti won Paralympic bronze in 100 meters.
Joel Sippola,
Emma Jump
20:31•Updated 21:05
Track winder Leo-Pekka Tähti has already achieved his eighth Paralympic medal. The Finnish champion was third in the men’s T54 class 100 meters with a time of 13.86.
Gold was won by Mexico Juan Pablo Cervantes Garcia (13.74). of Thailand Athiwat Paeng-nuea coil of silver, 13.79.
The star has won a Paralympic medal in no less than six different Paralympic events: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2024.
Tähti was chosen as Finland’s Athlete of the Year 2016.
The medal is Finland’s second of these games. Toni Piispanen opened the Finnish medal account yesterday. He won silver in the men’s 200m T51 category.
“Divided feeling”
The star had mixed feelings after his competition performance.
– A medal was not a matter of course today. Even the early rounds already showed a direction. I did well in the final. There were no mistakes.
However, Pori’s Achilles heel, which had been bothering him since June, was still bothering him.
– The maximum speed does not accelerate well enough. That’s what happened to me today. However, bronze is a good achievement.
Cervantes Garcia’s victory was a surprise.
– I am happy for him. He finally got a crown for his amazing career. Bronze was what was up for grabs today. You have to be realistic, because my recent performances have been declining, Tähti analyzed.
Probably the last Paralympics
The star has therefore competed in the Paralympics six times since the 2004 Athens Games. The legend of Finnish para sports probably competed in the last Paralympics of his career.
– Yes, it very likely was, Tähti answered the questions.
According to the star, the thought of the last Paralympics of his career did not make him sad.
– I was so into the race. We’ll see in a week or two what the idea is. I believe that in the morning there is a very good feeling.
Even if Tähte is no longer seen at the Paralympics, his career is not necessarily over yet.
– It is possible that the career will continue in the World Cup or it will end here. It’s nice to be able to feel the atmosphere. There has been a good feeling in the Finnish team, Tähti went through the atmosphere of the Paris Games.