Kaisa Mäkäräinen knew how the successful Suvi Minkki would be treated.
Suvi Minkkinen has been the most uplifting name of the Finnish winter sports season. The biathlete, who finished third once and reached the top ten no less than seven times, is fourth in the overall World Cup competition.
Last Sunday he celebrated Tero Seppälän with a historic win in the Finnish pair medley relay.
The 30-year-old athlete has found himself in a new situation at the same time. Previously, he was allowed to be in biathlon circles in peace, but now there are inquiries about this.
The media confused
Achieved the World Championship and several World Cup competition victories Kaisa Mäkäräinen speculated on Saturday at Urheilustudio that success has brought everything extra around the new Finnish success.
Reached by video link from Ruhpolding, Germany, Minkkinen confirmed Mäkäräinen’s guess as correct.
– When we were here for the first training on Tuesday, TV cameras from several countries followed our training. I was confused that okay, it’s like this!
– Has been able to experience everything new. I hope you can get used to it in the future, which would be an indication of success. Then it would probably seem routine.
So there have been inquiries from the media. Last weekend biathlon skiers competed in Obertsdorf, Germany, and now in Ruhpolding.
Minkkinen, who finished eighth on the normal course on Thursday, admits that Sunday’s first place has been mentally taxing. It has not been reflected in the results, because on Saturday in the relay, Minkkinen brought the Finnish women first to the second place.
Without the sick person From Venla Lehto competing Finland was eighth in the final results.
– Of course, with the victory, a lot of emotions are released, which tax the body a little, Minkkinen says.
For the podium on Sunday?
So Minkkinen has established his level as a top 10 biathlon skier.
– I have only tried to do intact biathlon performances. I’m surprised how consistently it has been enough for the top 10. It’s been cool to see how your own level is enough. I’m always in the fight for a podium place.
– Skiing definitely requires more Napsu if you want to establish your level on the podium, Minkkinen highlighted a small area of development.
On Sunday, Minkkinen will compete in the joint start. Reaching the top 6 is realism again.
– It’s a tough week after the Games. I should go skiing saving as much as possible, so that I have the energy to shoot well in the last place and fight for good places at the end.
Mäkäräinen believes that Minkkinen is also strong in the joint start race.
– The pace of the race is tough. Suvi has shown from race to race that she is capable of reliable performances.
– On the women’s side, it has changed a lot this year, so that the good skiers haven’t been able to shoot at their targets. There has been a lot of variability, but Suvi has been consistent, which is why he is fourth overall.
In the men’s mass start race Otto Invenius trying to continue his good performances. On Wednesday, he surprised the normal distance race with his seventh place.
The hard race pace does not necessarily serve him.
– He hasn’t been in such great shape physically. Let’s see how hard Invenius will be, predicts Mäkäräinen.
The matter was corrected on 19 January 2025 at 7:48 a.m.: corrected incorrect information that Minkkinen would have won the pair relay on Sunday with Otto Invenius. Minkkinen competed with Tero Seppälä.