Roponen represented Finland in the championships for 20 years. She leaves the back door open for the possibility of skiing a pair sprint sometime with her daughter at the World Championships.
One of the most experienced cross-country skiers in Finland Riitta-Liisa Roponen decide on their international racing career. He will no longer aspire to a place on the national team, world cups or championships.
– It is clear that the international career will end, but I have promised Ida that if she ever wants to play sprint at the Finnish Championships with her mother, she will definitely succeed. After all, skiing doesn’t end, but bigger trips are left out, Roponen summarizes.
– The fact that I am no longer trying to compete at the absolute top was an easy decision at the right time.
The 43-year-old skier becomes more sensitive as he recalls all the trips he has made during his career with his family. Roponen cherishes his Olympic medal as the brightest achievement in terms of results.
– Of course, the Olympic medal is the biggest and most valuable achievement it has, Roponen says, wiping his eyes.
Roponen skied his first championship in 2002 when he started at the Salt Lake City Olympics. Until last season, at the World Championships in Oberstdorf, Roponen was involved in the bronze-winning women’s message team.
It is from Oberstdorf that Roponen also has the first medal of his career, from 2005, when he won Pirjo Murasen (os. Manninen) with parisprint silver.
Roponen won all the medals in his career for the posts or doubles. He has two World Cup victories from personal trips.
Roponen won gold in doubles and a message at the 2007 World Championships in Sapporo. See the insert below about how the pike was preparing for the Games in the fall of 2006.
In 20 years, the species has evolved a lot. Only one of Roponen’s hobbies, cross-country skiing, has changed its shape several times over the years. So is the skier himself.
– I have changed tremendously as an athlete and grown up as a person. It is wild that the daughter just turned 18 years old. Even though it feels like there has been no trip and nothing, it shows that time has passed. I have been able to live and experience great years.
Roponen sought entry to the Beijing Olympics, but illnesses before important competitions and cancellations of the World Cup screening took the veteran a chance. The season has been difficult for Roponen.
– At the top now is the feeling that great when I got into the Finnish Championships. I feel like a winner after many problems and adversities.
At the Finnish Championships in Rovaniemi, Roponen will ski a free five-kilometer intermediate start race and a message in the colors of the Visa Ski Team on Saturday. In addition, Roponen intends to participate in the Ski Classic Ylläs – Levi competition.
– Longer trips would be better, but on leisure when I go, I do not choose. Sweet to get to Ounasvaara’s old vitos.
Roponen was also involved in the previous Rovaniemi Finnish Championships in 2004. At that time, he was seventh on the same Vitonen trip. Daughter Ida was born in January and is just under three months old.
– Olympic Bronze 2010, message
– 3 World Cup gold, messages
– World Championship silver, double message
– 3 World Championship bronzes, messages
– 238 World Cup starts
– 8 podium investments
– 2 race wins
– 12 personal Finnish championships