“The first was a clown jump” – watch the hilarious interview of Senni Salminen and Kristiina Mäkelä, who made Finnish history

Those who advanced to the EC final on Wednesday Kristiina Mäkelä (14,11) and Senni Salminen (13.90) made Finnish athletics history in the triple jump qualifying. Never before in the women’s triple jump have there been two Finns in the outdoor track value competition final.

This will change on Friday, when both Mäkelä and Salminen will be chasing EC medals in the final race. Salmi’s place in the finals is the first in the prestigious competition on outdoor tracks. For his part, Mäkelä’s place in the EC final is already the third in his career.

The Finnish duo was clearly relieved after qualifying.

– The first was clown jumping. The second one was really good, but it was barely overstepped. I just don’t remember anything about the third, a clearly relaxed Salminen talked.

Mäkelä overstepped his first jump, but in the second round experience spoke.

– In the first one, a few bangs were put in so that the qualifying mark (14.40) would have gone straight. Then it was considered that there is not a very tough qualification known. Such a basic jump was enough. Thomas (Allowedcoach) said that you can do all the circus tricks before the plank, as long as you don’t just step over, Mäkelä was happy.

The good-natured Mäkelä felt as if he had not competed at all. So the qualification was taken care of in a relaxed manner.

As an athlete, Mäkelä is at such a level that he no longer needs to fully invest in qualifying, at least at the EC level. The basic level is enough.

– I knew that a basic performance is enough to get into the top 12 here.

Throughout the summer, Mäkelä and also Salmi have medal expectations for the European Championships. Mäkelä himself has made it his goal to win the first championship medal of his career.

However, the three-point qualification showed that the Finnish duo can do their best for the medals. The number one qualifier is Germany Neele Eckhardt-Noack beat his record 14.53.

Last year’s Olympic silver medalist, from Portugal Patricia Mamona on the other hand, jumped his season’s best 14.45. He is the European champion from six years ago. Also during the government period, 14.74 jumped Ukraine Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk is a difficult opponent.

Salminen previously narrowly qualified for the Olympic and World Cup finals. Salminen said that he has nothing to worry about after securing his first place in the final. It knows well for the EC final.

– A completely different feeling. Now you can’t help but succeed, says the self-confident Salminen rooti.

Salminen believes he is in record shape. His record is 14.63 jumped last year.

– When I succeed, I jump there. Then we are pretty high. Yes, Kristiina and I talked that there could be a pretty happy outcome for the Finns if both succeed.

What would be the happy outcome of such a thing?

– Yes, we are fanned one way or another there on the podium. I have to keep my head higher than Senni, but we’ll see if it works out, Mäkelä threw.

The award ball can accommodate two Finns.

– Precisely. That’s what we’re after.

Story edited on 17.8. at 21:11: Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk jumped 14.74 in the indoor season. Not 15.47, as was initially claimed in the story.