Getting to the Swiss sports equipment manufacturer’s top endurance running team with a 4+1 year contract was For Nathalie Blomqvist something so significant that it simply could not be refused.
This is how ‘s athletics expert sees it Janne Ukonmaanahoalso known as a hurdler Raitanen’s top as a coach.
– This is unique news in many ways, although everything new always includes the other side of the coin. Nathalie is the first Finnish athlete to participate in such a competition. A big blow to the sport!
In Ukonmaanaho’s opinion, every athlete’s dream is a full-service house, where they can get a professional contract and do what they do best, i.e. sports.
– All you have to do is sign your name, and you don’t have to go and build patterns between the coach and manager yourself, and you don’t have to meet with companies, clubs or associations, the expert points out.
Private stables and teams
In Ukonmaanaho’s opinion, Blomqvist sets an example that when the right offer comes along, then you have to take it boldly.
– This opens a window for Finnish endurance running, and why not for athletics more broadly, for young people to have the opportunity for agreements where everything comes ready to the table, as long as it is at a sufficient level.
In the past, especially in Finland, endurance runners are used to training with a national team-led system and with the help of personal coaches.
Now, however, private teams and teams that have raised their heads in the world for a longer period of time, at least for ten years, are coming into the picture even more strongly.
– In the past, this pattern has not yet touched us Finns, actually for the reason that we haven’t had such tough athletes who would have attracted teams.
– The world has noticed that Nathalie is an athlete who is considered to have the potential to succeed and reach the top of the world, praises Ukonmaanaho.
Raitanen’s top Ukonmaanaho, who works as a coach, knows that equipment manufacturers invest more and more in having teams where they can control athletes.
The goal is to get top coaching and top teams. It produces a better result.
The head coach of Nathalie Blomqvist’s new endurance running team of Thomas Dreissigacker in the top group, Finnish talent does not have to jump into the deep, unknown end.
– This team is familiar to us Finns, because we have been to the same training places, and they carry out the same kind of training as is currently done in Finland, Ukonmaanaho says.
Is Athletics Club Europe According to Ukonmaanaho, the running team has a big investment, behind it is a big company with turnover and a burning desire to be a big factor in the field of top running in the future.
Ukonmaanaho is happy about Blomqvist’s “only right” decision, although he admits that there is always a small risk in starting something new.
He refers to things on the other side of the coin, such as the new spike manufacturer, new coaching and the fact that Nathalie will lack a personal trainer in the future.
Blomqvist’s previous coach: “Unheard of!”
Also Tom Andtbacka67, has a positive attitude towards the new designs of his former coach Nathalie Blomqvist.
– We have always had the goal that Nathalie will become an athlete playing at an international level.
– Being invited to the top team as a professional is unheard of! Perhaps it can be said that at least partially we succeeded in our goal.
The coach from Kokkola says he is proud that Blomqvist was given such an opportunity.
– When we know the weak situation of the sponsor market and the difficult financial times of sports federations and clubs, I see no other option but for the athlete to take this next step now, so that his up-and-coming sports career can continue.
– I think this is the only way forward. If I say it a bit bluntly, I think that there is no top sport in Finland at the moment. There are of course top athletes in Finland, but no top sports.
Andtbacka, who has worked as Blomqvist’s coach for a total of 7.5 years, says that he informed the Olympic Committee that despite OK’s four or six-year strategies, they have never brought personal records, let alone medals at prestigious competitions.
– It has always been the athlete, his coach and support group who achieves or brings the medal. Visions don’t bring, and don’t bring, impaling Andtbacka.
Blomqvist’s seasonal budget is 35,000 euros
The outspoken endurance running coach considers it irrelevant who is suitable for the chairmanship of the Olympic Committee or for anything else, because the officials do not add value, and do not move the athletes’ affairs forward.
Finland does not have an adequate financial support system for athletes.
– In order for Nathalie to be able to implement the program she is now embarking on, around 35,000 euros would be needed. And in order for it to be specifically about coaching, in which at least some of the camps would also have a coach involved, it would then require an additional half of that. Where can you find it in Finland? No problem, download Andtbacka.
Andtbacka says he is glad that the top offer did not come to the 23-year-old Blomqvist in the fall of 2023, because then his protégé would not have been ready for the next step.
– If an 18-year-old received such an offer, I bet that 95 percent would not dare to take that step, because it is a big leap after all. Now I think Nathalie is ready.
“Adaptable, future medalist”
Blomqvist, who runs with an impressive step, is a social, pleasant and likeable athlete.
– Nathalie adapts well to different places. When he was on his first trip abroad, I called him in Belgium.
– He said on the phone that this is almost like coming home. This is what I want to do. He had an Ethiopian runner as his roommate, and they shared no language other than smiles and hand signals.
Andtbacka emphasizes that Finnish talent will have a great and professional group around them in the future.
– I’ve had the chance to work with probably 50 successful athletes, and Nathalie is another one I’m sure will be good. It might take a couple of years.
– My job is now to buy tickets to the value races and tighten my old braces when he gets on the podium in the value races. Then I can say I know that woman, Andtbacka grins confidently.