Monika Mikkola, who sailed to Paris on a magnificent climb, lost the Tokyo Olympic place she had achieved to her teammate Tenka | Sport

Monika Mikkola, still unknown to the general public, is a successful, determined and experienced sailor despite her young age.

Monika Mikkola has sailed in the ILCA 6 class World Championships to Wednesday’s medal start and at the same time secured a place for Finland in the women’s dinghy at the Summer Olympics in Paris.

The 28-year-old Mikkola started Tuesday’s three-start race day only in 17th place, but with a strong performance, he rose to seventh place in the overall results. In Argentina, the top ten medal starts will be contested on Wednesday, for which double points will be awarded.

For the ILCA 6 class World Championships, seven places are awarded to countries that have placed the best – and that do not have a guaranteed place.

Mikkola secured third place for Finland in sailing. Previously, the feat was achieved by Nacra in the 17 class Sinem Kurtbay and Central axis and in men’s Jolla Kaarle Tapper.

Mikkola has been successful in his career in both the optimist and laser radial classes, achieving several junior WC and EC medals in them. He has been recognized as the Sailor of the Year in 2018 and was chosen as the sports association’s Junior Sailor of the Year twice in 2013 and 2014.

The representative of Esbo Segelförening finished fourth in the 2018 World Championships in Aarhus and secured a place for Finland at the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, but lost a strict internal qualification between teammates to a player who has since ended his career Tuula Tenkanenwho finished fifth in Tokyo.

As a child, Mikkola enjoyed skiing and playing the violin, until one day he told his parents that he could start sailing in his older brother’s wake if he could get an optimist dinghy. The wish came true, and sailing became Mikkola’s great passion. Hard work has also led to hard results along the way.