Finland won the World Championship gold in cheerleading for the fourth time in a row. “By no means get bored,” says Tuuve Häkkinen, captain of the team.
Antti-Jussi Sipilä,
Mika Halonen
The Finnish women’s cheerleading team won their fourth consecutive World Championship gold medal at the World Championships in cheerleading in Orlando, USA, the night before Saturday. The victory came off with a clear difference to the United States, Germany grabbed the bronze.
In addition to the women’s cheerleading team, other Finnish teams also excelled. All the adult national teams reached the top three when the mixed national team and the dance national team reached the World Championship bronze.
On Tuesday, the national team returned to home Finland. Sports went to Helsinki-Vantaa to meet the champions.
– It is wonderful to return to Finland, but of course I could have stayed there, the team captain smiles. Tuuve Häkkinen.
An injury to the team in Orlando forced the cheerleading team to change its program at the last minute. Still, the team reached their coach Maria Wahlroosin to the best of their ability.
– It’s been a really rewarding trip. Honestly, it has also been difficult because of the corona, both mentally and physically. It has overshadowed the project, but it has made an incredibly great dune in that such a program has been put together and that it was possible to complete it in a purely h-moment, says Tuuve Häkkinen.
Häkkinen describes an experienced team and experienced coaches as the secret to the team’s success tube.
– Our project is long. It always starts in the early fall, and we’re gathered to make choices about the program and the team in peace. We work a lot in front of the team spirit and invest in things that happen outside of training.
Häkkinen says that the team trains in the form of a camp. Meetings are held at the camps to discuss common goals and values. There is also a lot of talk about mental resilience.
Coping was especially asked now, when the previous World Championships were held only in the autumn of last year, then virtual due to the corona situation.
– This season started very abruptly after the autumn World Cup. That is why a lot has been invested in mental endurance, recovery and side training.
However, you can’t get tired of winning, Häkkinen announces.
– Not at all. I would venture to say that this is the best World Cup gold I have won.
– Because it has been a difficult season and culminated in a wonderful program. That was the best program ever raced at the World Cup.