One year ago, Oskari Mörö made an important decision for his sports career – the two-time European Championship finalist still has a tough goal

Hurdle runner Oskari Mörö, who has experienced several setbacks in recent years, plans to return to the top. He knows why Finnish athletics is back on the road to success.

When Finnish athletics achieved its best European Championship result in 40 years in Munich last summer, one of the most important athletes of recent years was conspicuous by its absence. 400m hurdler Oskari Mörö was eighth in the 2014 European Championships and fourth two years later. In the last games, only the javelin thrower, who reached bronze, achieved a better Finnish performance Antti Ruuskanen.

With his two places in the finals, Mörö was one of the biggest trendsetters in Finnish athletics for several years. However, due to several injuries, the man has not been seen in the prestigious competitions since 2016.

Mörö’s trouble has been hip problems in particular, which have bothered him more or less since 2015. A year ago, however, Mörö had enough of continuous art. In the fall of last year, he first had a hip operation, after which he had an operation on his knee.

Mörö, who excelled in the prestigious competitions, has had amazingly good competition seasons, even though the foundations have been difficult after the broken training season. The best example is the year 2016, when Mörö ran a Finnish record of 49.04 in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in addition to fourth place at the European Championships.

Mörö persisted for many years without surgery. However, the repetition of ailments year after year made the athlete lean toward surgery.

Rehabilitation was a long process. Last summer he ran a few 400m races. He was well over a second short of his smooth record of 47.40.

This fall, Mörö has been able to start with a clean slate. Progress is, among other things, the fact that he has been able to run on consecutive days.

– It has not been a matter of course for me in recent years. Note that muscle endurance is not yet at the level it should be when running. However, autumn and winter are the time when we aim to recover from hard training, Mörö tells Urheilu from the camp in South Africa.

Mörö gives his hip an assessment of “excellent plus” compared to, for example, the last two autumns.

“Under 49 second potential in the body”

Born in 1993, Mörö turns 30 on January 31. Although the last few years have been difficult and the challenges have been repeated, quitting has not crossed the mind of the experienced athlete.

During his adult career, he still hasn’t had a complete training season. The idea of ​​a full potential foreclosure is tempting.

– I’m almost thirty. Yes, there will be time to sit on the office bench or whatever will be done for the next 50 years. I want to turn over all the stones about this now.

In the 400-meter hurdles, you can be at the international top even at an advanced age. Mörö has used the Dominican Republic as an example Félix Sánchezwho achieved his second Olympic gold at the age of 34.

– It has been a hard school until now. I hope it (career) lasts at least five years.

EC bronze was taken last summer with a time of 48.78.

– I know that I have the potential of less than 49 seconds in my body. It already has a use in international arenas, Mörö says and adds that the European Championship is a more realistic place to fight for the brightest success.

As stated, Mörö has been one of the regular athletes in Finnish athletics in recent years. He knows how Finnish athletics has slowly gotten back on the road to success. Finland won two European championships and four medals in August.

– Everything starts from everyday training. You can’t give a line in it. Whether it’s about everyday training between a coach and athlete pair or that maintenance and physiotherapy are involved. Investing in camping has also played a big role. Everyone has camped a lot and found the optimal conditions.