At the Finnish Cup of Skiing in Kuopio, there was a lot of heat in Sunday’s relay. In the background were the events of the last ascent.
Representing the Puijo Ski Club Iivo Niskanen recently told in a TV interview that Kuusamo’s Erä-Veikkoin Kalle Parantainen had wedged him in front of him on the climb of the last lap.
– The man from Kuusamo jumped in front and started to wedge me to the left. I knew it was soft and a stick went into it and I fell behind the queue, Niskanen opened.
Niskanen visited Kalle Parantainen after the race to give quick feedback.
– Nothing in that. You have to defend the place, but you don’t have to jump on skis, Niskanen described.
Kalle Parantainen explained the situation to Urheilu by phone on Sunday evening.
– Iivolla got emotional when I didn’t give up. I don’t have to give in relay skiing. On the mountain, Iivo kicked me with a ski. Iivo’s cup went upside down. He started barking at me and started yelling at me, Parantainen told about the events on the track.
Parantainen brought Kuusamo’s Erä-Veikot to the finish line in sixth place, 14.4 seconds behind the winner Jämin Jännett. Niskanen was involved in the final rally and brought the Puijo Ski Club to the finish line in third place. Jämin Jänte and Puijo Skiing Club had time for Imatra’s Urheilijat.
– I will finish, Iivo is on the ground. I take off my skis. Iivo starts to walk really aggressively towards me. He comes right up to the skin. I’ll push him out of it. The same use continues at Iivo during the final training. Iivo came barking, what the hell I jumped on my skis. I just stated that relay skiing is relay skiing. You don’t have to give a shit about it, Parantainen described.
In an interview with Iltalehti Parantainen said that he has a bloody mark on his right leg. He believed that the leg would be bruised.
Parantainen compared to Iivo Niskanen’s actions to how Alexander Bolshunov tackled Salpauselä after the 2021 World Cup relay Joni Mäkeä from the back. Before that, Bolshunov had tried to beat Mäke with a stick.
– When Bolshunov hit Joni Mäke with a stick, it became a terrible shitstorm. I don’t know why the skiing nation justifies Iivo the same use, Parantainen said.
According to 24-year-old Parantainen, the Puijo Ski Club should be abandoned like Russia.
– If we are equal, it doesn’t matter whether we use a pole or skis. I think there should be the same line, no matter what athlete is there, Parantainen said.
According to Parantainen, his skis didn’t work in the competition and that’s why he had to go uphill next to the track.
Neck denied to Ilta-Sanom, that he would have kicked Parantai on purpose.
– We are both fierce competitors, and in the finish area I did tell Kalle my opinion about the race situation. I’ve tried to reach out to him and go through the whole situation as well as apologize for getting angry on my own behalf, but he hasn’t responded to my contacts, Niskanen said in the story section of his personal Instagram account.
TD: Verbal notice to Niskas and Parantainen
Puijo Suomen Cup td, technical expert, Arto Tillin according to the TV pictures and video material he has, it is not clear exactly what happened. TD is a kind of cross between a skiing judge and a consultant, an observer outside the games.
– The video shot by a drone is so far away that you cannot make statements based on it that someone did this or that, Tilli described.
According to Tilli, he has given both Niskanen and Parantainen a verbal warning about their unsportsmanlike behavior.
– The nerves must have been a little tight on the way to the goal and there was a little bit of fiddling. Dill says.
He hadn’t talked to Parantainen yet before ‘s phone call.
– I hope that the matter progresses in such a way that the gentlemen call each other and agree on the matter. If nothing new is revealed, there will be no more ingredients for big drama here, Tilli said.
Later Tilli said that she had been in contact with Parantainen. Parandainen had posted a picture of the wound, where there is a little blood and a scratch.
– Iivo is behind when he kicks. I don’t understand how you could do anything to the front side then. What is needed is an undeniable display. Kalle said that Iivo kicked. Iivo said that he hit his skis, Tilli said and still saw a verbal remark as the final sanction.