Aleksi Jaakkola, the former winner of the value competition, has found himself in an unimaginable cycle of problems. He gives tips for Finland’s next moukari promise.
Joel Sippola,
Pertti Lappalainen
18-year-old maverick talent Max Lampinen became the under-20 European champion on Thursday with his handsome record of 79.72.
It has only been able to go further with the device in question Aleksi Jaakkola in 2016. In that series, 6.25 kg equipment is used.
Seven years ago, Jaakkola threw a youth SE result of 80.54 at Nokia. Jaakkola, born in 1997, was once a strong talent, from whom a successor was expected Olli-Pekka for Karjalainen.
However, the 25-year-old athlete’s years after the youth classes were difficult. He had several problems, including with his knees.
– In itself, nothing happened. I could write a book about all the mistakes I’ve made. At worst, I trained for two months without a rest day in a power-producing sport, which puts more strain on me.
He remembers that his body was so tired that his body betrayed him.
– I’ve had two disc bulges, a total of five knee surgeries, my hamstring is broken. The bicep has come off. Yes, there have been these, Jaakkola enumerates.
A mysterious ailment in the lungs
Three years ago, it seemed that Jaakkola was finally able to get rid of his numerous difficulties. That summer, he shot his record of 74.51 and the three best throws of his career on the adult equipment.
This year he has not competed at all.
– The lungs have been damaged to the point that, at the moment, top training is not possible, Jaakkola says.
He says that the lungs may have been damaged by the coronavirus, which he has contracted twice.
– Countless hours have been spent with specialists and blood tests. No clear reason can be found. The heart rate rises above a certain heart rate level. About a third of the lungs are out of action.
The troubles in question have been mentally more difficult for Jaakkola than, for example, knee problems.
– I’ve been going for two and a half years with a lung problem. This is much more difficult to understand than in the case of a knee injury. The symptoms are known, but no one knows the cause or the treatment.
– Tämmöinen has been difficult to internalize. You can’t even blame yourself when, for example, you could do it up to a certain limit at the knees. Still, it wasn’t my fault and I didn’t break my knee on purpose. However, it was easier to deal with than this lung thing that came all of a sudden.
Jaakkola’s tips for Lampinen
Jaakkola was happy about Lampinen’s EC gold, seven years younger than him. Both are united by the under-20 World Cup medal.
Lampinen might still break Jaakkola’s youth SE at the end of the season. Next year, Lampinen will be overage for the series, so the record must be created this summer.
– It has always been known that Max has gifts for sports. I’ve said that if Max breaks the record, let him break it. Young records are great things, but at that age I had my eye on adults.
– Max improved his record by almost three meters. However, that speaks of talent. I’m happy for Max.
However, Jaakkola is an example of the fact that you don’t just move to the top of the adult level.
– Max’s name comes up in the media now. It can cause pressure. It’s just how Max handles it.
The age group in question is critical because the men’s device (7.26 kg) will be used next.
– The only tip is that you have to keep your wits about you during training, continue in the same way and stay healthy. Yes, a certain kind of luck is needed for that. However, they know what they’re doing when it’s going that well.