Riitta-Liisa Roponen, 44, had a blast at the WC – she smiled widely at the start: “It was amazing to ski!”

Riitta-Liisa Roponen finished fourth in the normal distance of the Tampere WC.

Finished his active career Riitta-Liisa Roponen was handsomely fourth in the 10 kilometer freestyle skiing competition at the Tampere WC.

Roponen started the competition with a smile, which is hard to put better. Roponen received plenty of encouragement along the track. Even at the first intermediate point, a smile would be on the face of the skier.

– It was amazing to ski! In the first round, it was a smile. What’s up. I came here to enjoy, Roponen said.

Roponen announced in April 2022 that he would end his international skiing career. However, Roponen takes part in national competitions.

– I train in a way that is comfortable, Roponen states.

The seven-time World Cup medalist states that his everyday life is different today than it was as a top athlete.

– I’ve learned that I can enjoy weekends where I haven’t played sports at all, Roponen says and tells how he has gone on city vacations to visit shops or see sights, for example.

Roponen hopes to be on the starting line at the spring WC as well. Roponen, representing Visa Ski Team Kemi, says he will go to the relay race if he is needed. Teammate Emmi Lämsä was also among the winners of Saturday’s competition. Lämsä was fifth, 0.2 seconds behind Ropose.

He took the victory in superior style Krista Pärmäkoski.