Runner Sara Lappalainen ends her long career.
17:08•Updated 17:20
Middle distance runner Sara Lappalainen33, (née Kuivisto) is ending his long sports career, says the Finnish Sports Federation in its press release.
The decision of Lappalainen, who suffered from health problems, matured during the summer. In the last three years, the Lapland has been plagued by an intestinal parasite.
– A long winter is coming here. When you were pounding it, you started to feel that you are ready to put yourself in the body to the fullest. You can’t do this with just one hand. I got the feeling that it probably isn’t. These past years have disciplined a lot. Feeling tired. I just can’t take it, Lappalainen says in the press release.
Lappalainen describes that the Paris Olympics were the last straw for him. He then ran in the heats of 1500 meters with a time of 4:08.66, about three seconds behind his season best.
After the Games, Lappalainen thought about the continuation of his career. Among other things, he points out that he doesn’t get an award for the work he does.
– The whole summer was really difficult. I was in incredibly good shape, but my condition collapsed three or four times in the summer completely and at very bad moments, right before the European Championships and before the Olympics, says Lappalainen.
– It’s a terrible situation for an athlete when you know you’re in top shape, but the next day you might not even be able to jog.
Lappalainen also talks about his retirement on Instagram. He writes how top sport has been a passion and a way of life for him instead of a job. Lappalainen says that the love for passion, however, began to crack.
– No one can handle difficulties from week to week, it takes joy from even the strongest. If the mood gets dark, there are only problems ahead, Lappalainen wrote.
Lappalainen achieved 16 Finnish championships, five silver and two bronze in his career on outdoor tracks. He also ran outside nine times the SE result.
The Finnish records held by Lappalainen are from the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. He clocked 1:59.41 in the 800 meters and 4:02.35 in the 1500 meters.
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