Petter Kukkonen’s coaching career did not receive a crown for a personal Olympic medal. The Finns will start the team competition on Thursday in a depressed situation and with a relaxed mind.
Combined head coach Petter Kukkonen took the result of the combined grand hill race heavily on Tuesday. He didn’t give interviews after the race and wrote on Twitter that he is no longer coaching anyone. After a sleepy night, Kukkonen still remained in his position.
– It hasn’t changed my mind about anything. The tweet was an outburst of emotion that comes from annoyance. However, this has been a long project. I am not just talking about the last few months, we have been preparing here for several years.
For example Iivo Niskanen said after 15 kilometers of Olympic gold, he has practically lived within four walls for the past two years, investing everything in the Beijing Olympics.
– Yes, we have had a hard time in the barrel. Team members and maintenance have made huge sacrifices. Each story ends a little differently. Everyone wants it to go well, but there won’t always be happy endings in life.
Ilkka Herolan Kukkonen considers the sixth place in the normal hill race to be an honorable performance. The coaching was successful and the athlete was in such a strike that there was a chance for gold. The equipment was not necessarily on the Kuopio side.
– Sixth place is the best Olympic start of his career, though. Basically, everything was fine. It is often the case in top sports that all the pieces have to be a diamond if you want to make it. At that time, one of our areas did not work on race day. The end result was therefore disappointing.
According to Kukkonen, Herola did not succeed in the Suurmäki race, even though the wind conditions did not help. Herola was 16th in the big hill race.
– Herola is a great role model and a role model for children in the way she views and practices sports. Ilkka was able to show here that he belongs to the top of the combined. I’m really proud of that. We hit him in such a way that it would have been possible for the Olympics as well.
The biggest passion is gone
Kukkonen has worked as a head coach in the pipeline for 15 years. First five years in Estonia and then ten years in Finland. According to Kukkonen, the extremes of emotions in top sports that require success are great.
– Although there have been great things along the way and there will probably still be good moments during this season, is it time to do this again. Succeeding in top sports is key. I have to wonder if I’m such a good coach that I want to do this anymore. I wouldn’t want to miss the dreams of very many athletes anymore.
Kukkonen admits that his greatest passion for coaching is gone. The feeling is partly miserable, but also relieved.
– The flame inside is no longer what it was at its best. It’s quite human. When you do long enough, then it’s time to move on to the page and do something else. There is still tomorrow’s race and three weekends left. Then it’s time to sit back. I’ve been on vacation, but my head hasn’t been on vacation for at least ten years. Maybe after that I will see things more clearly.
Finns in a depressed state for Thursday’s team competition
Ilkka Herola, who was disappointed in the individual competitions, says that the competition in Suurmäki on Tuesday has already been left behind. According to Herola, who is the first to jump out of the team, Finland will enter the competition in an unpressurized situation. The team jumps in order Ilkka Herola, Arttu Mäkiaho, Perttu Reponen and Eero Hirvonen. Ski sequences are decided after the hill section.
– We have an unpressurized and surprising team. With peace of mind, we can set out to do our best. Personally, I still want to get a good performance on that big hill. I want to show myself. The team competition is the ideal place to take it, Herola says.
The Beijing Olympics are Petter Kukkonen’s last value competitions as Finland’s head coach. Herola has competed virtually throughout her adult career under Kukkonen.
– The race is still in progress. It has not yet begun to nostalgize. At some point, it makes the mind stop to reminisce. Let’s try to make tomorrow a worthy decision for Petter’s coaching career in the competition.
Perttu Reponen skipped the big hill as a precaution. On the eve of the team competition, Reponen is already feeling well.
– The condition has improved well. Today has been just plain. The skiing also felt surprisingly good. Sure, it’s a bit of a mystery how it works when it starts to pound properly. At the Olympics, the medal is sought. We are a team ready for a surprise, Reponen said.
Petter Kukkonen estimates that Finland will move from five to seven in the team competition.
– The boys have a good spirit. The premise is that we are trying to make our best competition here. Let’s see what Thursday brings when it comes.
The combined team competition is scheduled for Thursday. The hill section will be skipped at 10 am and the ski section will be competed at 1 pm. Live broadcasts on TV2, Areena, ‘s website and ‘s application.