The Finnish walker’s body temperature was 41.9 and his condition was terrible to watch – then the strange confusion of the organizers began: “I was quite alone”

Athletics World Championships 19.8.–27.8. Ylen channels. See the schedule and broadcast information of the games at this link.

The 50-kilometer walking race became known as a particularly brutal sport in the prestige competitions of athletics. The trip totally drained the contestants mentally and physically.

After the games, the scary-looking fainting spells, vomiting, fainting spells and other painful moments were a familiar sight. The trip was bid farewell at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. At the same time, it was also removed from the program of other prestigious competitions.

The cancellation of the trip was justified by the length of the TV broadcast and the fact that it was too rough for the athletes. However, the athletes are protesting that the 50 km will go down in history. For example, the number one walker in Finland at the moment Aku Bearden has said that the decision received a crushing reception among the athletes.

In Partanen’s opinion, with 50 kilometers, the last 10–15 kilometers were the part where it was seriously looked at who could last and who wouldn’t.

The future of race walking has been shrouded in darkness anyway, and athletes have given crushing criticism that they are unable to prepare long-term, because the distances change all the time.

Read more: A complete knock-out for the sensational reform of athletics – the Finnish top uploads a harsh text: “No longer the same sport”

Crazy twists and turns in Ojala after the race

In the World Championships, the distances were now 35 kilometers and 20 kilometers. The 35-kilometer races held on Thursday morning offered – especially in the hot Budapest heat – enough drama and the kind of TV image that you used to get from 50 kilometers.

Finland’s second representative Aleksi Ojala had to resort to harsh cooling measures and stopped his pace a few times. He arrived at the finish line in 25th place and walked with a time of 2:38:34. Ojala collapsed on the ground after reaching the finish line, and was taken away in a wheelchair.

Ojala told Urheilu about the dramatic moments of crossing the finish line, which he himself does not remember anything about.

– Memories are flimsy. Fortunately, the team has a good doctor. Ilkka Räsänen has opened some gaps.

– Body temperature was 41.9. After that, let’s cool down. Ilkka would have liked a drip, but the race organizers did not agree to give it.

On top of that, according to Ojala, the race organizers did not allow the Finnish team’s own doctor to come to the medical tent.

– It was a new situation at the World Cup level. We were quite alone there, we didn’t really realize if there were other athletes there.

– Then when I got to the right temperatures and got permission to move, they didn’t agree to hand me over without the team doctor. Then Räsänen Ilkka was searched. Then, with Ilka’s instructions, we went back to the first aid tent.

Räsänen would have liked Ojala to have been offered a drip at this stage, but that didn’t happen to the race organizers.

– Let’s go a little slower today, Ojala acknowledged after arriving at the Finnish team’s hotel.

Ojala’s Finnish record of 2:28:22 was set at the World Championships in Oregon last year. He was 13 at the time. Now the time was ten minutes slower. Stopping didn’t occur to me.

– Not at any point, not coming here to interrupt. At least I left everything on the track, you have to be happy with that.

Ojala was able to open up the course of the race enough that the first hour went well. The race started in the morning at 7 o’clock local time.

– Then when the sun hit the side of the route, it was like a wet rag on my face. There was a change and you could see it in everyone. Quite a lot of people started to drop.

Sad news for Partase after crossing the finish line

After crossing the finish line, Aku Partanen, who finished sixth in the SE time, had time to enjoy the 11th place and his record time of 2:28:58. The three-and-a-half-minute time penalty given after crossing the finish line changed the remaining time to 2:32:28 and to 18th place.

– At the end, there was no relaxation in the walk, it was forced to grind. I think that’s where the warning signs came from, Partanen said in SUL’s press release.

Partanen started well and stayed in the lead until the pace proved too fast. The last ten kilometers were a pain.

– Aku shouted that the legs are empty. Energy is out. The momentum freezes, coach Partanen Valentin Kononen said nine kilometers before the finish line.

– The battery has received two reds, the wear and tear can also be seen in the technology, Kononen continued about the warnings Partanen received.

Partanen said after the race that at the hour mark his legs were empty, but at the h-moment he didn’t feel like giving up. After the time penalty, the record of 2:29:04, set in April in Lappeenranta, remained valid.

– More muscle endurance is needed for 35 kilometers. Last time in April, I walked more than 30 kilometers on the road. The upper body does not rotate enough, and then it goes to freeze.

– In that heat and with that recovery time, a very successful race. Snadisti is sad that he couldn’t match the pace of the top group.

The layoff also fell into disrepair

In the men’s race, France, who broke away and led the competition for a long time Aurelien Quinion succumbed to technical fouls and was flagged out of the fight for victory. of Spain Alvaro Martin won the world championship in his record time of 2:24:30. Martin became a double champion of the Budapest Games, as he had already celebrated a 20 kilometer victory.

The Spaniards collected the jackpot from the walks, because on the women’s side Maria Perez also won both 35 and 20 kilometers. At 35 kilometers, his winning time was 2:38:40.