Athletics World Championships 19.8.–27.8. Ylen channels. See the schedule and broadcast information of the games at this link.
The hot conditions of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest have spoken. The struggle against the conditions rose to completely new spheres on Thursday with the 35-kilometer walks, even though they started at seven in the morning local time.
Finland Aleksi Ojala tried by all means to cool himself down, but in the long performance the temperature rose inexorably. Ojala fought to finish in 25th place with a time of 2:38:34.
After recovering and getting back to the hotel, Ojala said that he doesn’t remember anything about his finish. Body temperature was 41.9 degrees. Finnish team doctor Ilkka Räsänen would have hoped that Ojala would have made it to the drop, but the race organizers did not agree to that.
In addition, the Finnish team’s own doctor was not allowed in the first aid tent, which, according to Ojala, was a new situation at the World Cup level.
Read more: 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”
Doctor of the Finnish team and the Olympic Committee Maarit Valtonen answered questions on the topic in an interview with Urheilu on Friday.
How dangerous was Aleksi Ojala’s condition yesterday?
– There are risks in these situations. The fact that help is near and we can quickly correct the heat rise and fluid loss, in that sense the situation took place under controlled conditions.
What if the body temperature had risen from that 41.9? Would there have been more health risks?
– Then, if the body’s core temperature rises above 42 degrees, it is a life-threatening condition. That’s why the first aid teams are there, so that the temperature rise can be dealt with quickly.
Aleksi Ojala said that the doctor of the Finnish team was not allowed to go with him to the tent. Why not?
– We are pushing for a change in this, so that our own staff can get there.
Should he have been treated differently in the tent?
– I have no details of what happened there. Yes, correcting this fluid loss and temperature rise quickly is primary and critical.
Where can the competitions be held anymore?
On a general level, Valtonen comments on the hot conditions in Budapest as “challenging”. The longer the journey and the performance, the more it causes problems.
Equally hot conditions have spoken before, for example at the time of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Doha World Cup in 2019.
– You can adapt to the heat. We have tools and means that the body can prepare for these conditions, Valtonen reminds.
– Of course, this is challenging these days. With climate change, temperatures will only rise. You can’t completely avoid this, but yes, this is very much on the wallpaper in international working groups. There will certainly be a discussion about where value competitions can be held.
On long journeys, the athletes themselves may not realize the seriousness of their situation, so the race organizers have a great responsibility. The teams’ own doctors cannot rush to stop anyone.
Valtonen says that the athletes have their own responsibility, but the competition organizers monitor the athletes’ activities and take the athlete aside if their consciousness weakens.
The women’s marathon on Saturday starts at 7 a.m., Finnish time at 8 a.m. Valtonen believes that the first hour will be tolerable due to the temperature.
– Our athletes use cooling methods so that the core temperature does not rise before the start. There is watering on the way and care is taken of fluid balance. Its importance is great in temperature regulation.
– I see that in that sense the athletes are safe. We have ways to deal with these.
Chydenius’ preparation method: “Treadmill for the swimming hall”
Finland’s representatives at Saturday’s marathon are Nina Chydenius and Alisa Vainio. 33-year-old Chydenius is taking part in the World Championships for the first time. The 25-year-old Vainio has previously been 26th and 16th in the World Championship marathon.
Chydenius says that he made special preparations for the tough conditions in Budapest.
– I have run in the swimming pool. I have a treadmill there. After all, it is the warmest place in Kokkola. I’ve been doing those workouts about four times a week. It has been an extra thing because of this weather.
Chydenius believes that training in the swimming pool helps to tolerate heat and humidity, although the body can react in surprising ways during the maximum performance of the race.
However, Chydenius is not worried about the events he saw in the 35 kilometer walking race.
– No worries. Aleksi is a tough guy and was able to pull off a great race. I appreciate it. I hope I have the same fighting spirit. At least I was inspired by it. I hope I’ll be one of those tomorrow.
Chydenius, who previously focused on track trips, has only been competing in a serious marathon for the second year. He was 39th at the European Championships in Munich last year. His marathon record has been 2:32:48 in Seville since the beginning of 2022.
Chydenius says he’s in record shape, but he doesn’t think the record time will come tomorrow.
– I start at a fairly conservative pace. I hope that I will grab places in the last 15 kilometers. I run for places, as is done in value races.
In February 2023, Vainio ran the Finnish record 2:27:26 at the Seville marathon. Since then, he has not competed in a marathon.
Vainio says that the last few weeks have gone well, but there have been enough difficulties in the summer precisely because of illnesses.
– It’s been quite an eventful summer. There have been extremes. Good training and then I’ve been in a lot of pain. Positive feeling though.
Vainio has not prepared for the heat with any special training. However, he admits that the conditions are a bit exciting.
– Yes, it makes you think and a little scary. You can then see it in the situation, how the body reacts.
Women’s marathon on Saturday at 8 a.m., men’s marathon on Sunday at 8 a.m. Broadcasts on TV2 and Areena start at 7:55 a.m., Puhee at 7:50 a.m.