The Planica World Championships do not evoke any special feelings in Ilkka Herola. However, the athlete of the combined team still aims for the prestigious championship in his career.
Roope Visuri,
Riikka Smolander-Slotte
Planica World Cup skiing on channels 22.2.–5.3.2023. See the program and broadcast information of the World Ski Championships in this link.
– These competitions do not feel special in any way. Prize competitions are always in some way, of course, but this has not been uploaded for years. You can say that with some kind of routine you can go to the Games**, Ilkka Herola** sums up his situation before the World Championships in Planica.
The number one star of Finland’s combined team participated in the prestigious adult competition for the first time ten years ago at the World Championships in Val di Fiemme in 2013. The time has passed quickly, they say.
Although the feeling is routine, on the other hand, the situation is definitely different from the previous World Cup two years ago.
Herola is now the defending World Cup silver medalist from the normal mountain race. Of course, Herola was already a prestigious medalist a year ago when he went to the Beijing Olympics, but this time he is also one in the World Championship arena.
How important was the meaning of that medal?
– When I left for these World Championships, I talked about this at home. The feeling has been maybe somehow different going to the value competition. It’s easier to calm down before the games. I know that the medal did not require miracles, perfect preparation or special things. When the basics are in order, you can take it easy. Everything is possible. There is no need to worry about the events of the past weeks or months. You can just enjoy it, Herola describes.
Prize competition win still in mind
The Beijing Olympics ended in disappointment for Herola. He had a great chance to reach the medals just after a successful hill performance in the normal hill race, but the familiar Herola was not seen in the ski section. The Olympic medal was still a dream.
Herola took responsibility for results in the combined national team at a young age, but the handling of disappointment has changed over the years. In the early part of his career, Herola focused only strictly on the next games.
– It was natural to find motivation through that. The best years were clearly ahead. However, it does not last forever. When things today are frustrating or seem difficult, you have to turn your focus to other things in life. I lean on the people around me and so on. Then you put sports on the sidelines, but there have been relatively few difficult days, says Herola.
The combined athlete from Siilinjärve calculates that on average the last 3-5 years have gone well. There have been no long difficult periods.
Although success is no longer everything, the 27-year-old Herola has one more bright goal in mind. It’s a value race championship
– Be it World Cup gold or Olympic gold. Either of them. I could show myself that it is still possible to be the best athlete in prestigious competitions, says Herola, looking back two years ago.
Jarl Magnus Riiber was stronger in the race for victory at the end by 0.4 seconds.
– In Oberstdorf, the victory was very close. We were at the same end with the same goal, but it still wasn’t enough, Herola recalls.
However, Herola does not seek a prize competition win at any price.
– I want to approach the matter in such a way that my satisfaction with my sports career must not be caught up in winning a prestigious competition. I want to enjoy my last years, no matter how they go. I want to enjoy every day of my life as an elite athlete. You can look back so that you haven’t been around here against your will, Herola concludes.
The race of the combined normal hill starts at 11:00 a.m. and the cross-country section is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The live broadcast of the World Cup skiing starts on TV2 at 10:45 a.m. and on Puhe at 10:55 a.m.