The reason behind Saga Vanninen’s wild record improvement is a change in training – the expert predicts a tough World Championship ranking

The reason behind Saga Vanninens wild record improvement is a

Saga Vanninen was close to breaking the 7-match SE result. Expert Jaakko Ojaniemi estimates that the athlete will finish sixth at the World Championships, but Vanninen’s coach considers the goals realistic.

Kati Nummelin,

Kimmo Porttila

A septuagenarian Saga Vanninen20, was close to breaking A Swedish fairy tale The 30-year-old Finnish record on Sunday. At the end of the summer, the athletics world championships will be competed in Budapest, but before that, the under-23 European championships will be held in Tampere, where Vanninen will go as one of the early favorites.

– They are the main goal this season, but in addition to the ranking, I’m going to get a good result, Vanninen said.

Sports expert Jaakko Ojaniemi noted in Sunday’s race performance that Vanninen has progressed especially in running sports.

– Now it seems that the change of coach has been a good thing. 800 and 200 meters are often challenging sports to develop, so improving in them is a great success. They have a huge impact on the overall result, because the running technique also supports e.g. the long jump.

Development in running has not been a coincidence. Having started as Vanninen’s coach in September Jesse Jokinen according to the training, the focus is especially on running.

– With the competitor, it’s always a matter of choices, which qualities to develop. Now the focus is on developing versatile running, so it supports as many sports as possible, Jokinen said.

A clear level up

Ojaniemi mentioned a year ago that Vanninen should raise his entire level if he wanted to aim for the 6,500 points considered as a phantom limit. Mere individual successful sports performances would not be enough for that.

– This season, a streak of 6,500 points is a good and realistic goal. Now it doesn’t necessarily even require any particularly hard success.

Vanninen’s record score of 6,391 on Sunday would have been enough for eighth place in last year’s World Championships and seventh place in the 2019 Games. The Finnish record, which was 13 points away on Sunday, would have achieved sixth place in the 2019 Games.

– For this year’s World Championships, I’m guessing sixth place. In the future, I don’t see any obstacle to Vanninen winning a World Cup medal. There are clear areas for improvement in his performances, so he is not even close to his maximum potential, expert Jaakko Ojaniemi thinks.

Stuff about the future

When asked about Vanninen’s future goals, he answers the world’s top at the adult level. He refuses to give a time limit for the goal.

– You’ll see then, Vanninen thought.

– If we’re being honest, in Saga’s opinion, it’s already tomorrow, when you have to be at your best. These are the things that need to be reminded of, Jokinen added.

Vanninen says that he is calculating the total points he would like to achieve this season. When asked the exact numbers, he laughs and says he doesn’t want to say them out loud either.

– I dare to say that much, when Saga scores points for themselves, they usually don’t end up in the bottom corner, Jokinen added with a smile.

Is the reduction of points of any use to the athlete?

– It can be useful, but it can also be harmful. If you have scored too hard for yourself and it doesn’t go well, then you should still try to pull yourself together. And not just get depressed for the rest of the games, Vanninen grinned.

– There is still a bit of learning to do here. When you move from the junior leagues to the adult side, it’s a bit different. Records don’t just come from that. We have had a few short conversations about this topic. At least one whole boat ride from Tallinn, Jokinen added with a laugh.

Saga Vanni and coach Jesse Joki have been interviewed in May in Tenerife in connection with the training camp before last Sunday’s competition.

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