Toni Piispanen will go home with two medals from the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. Piispanen has already won 22 medals in prestigious competitions.
Anu Karttunen,
Sari Sirkki
Toni Piispanen on Sunday, in the T51 class 100 meters World Cup final, he won bronze with his hand firmly taped. Biispa was not slowed down by the hand injury, and he stated after the race that he expected an even tougher result in Monday’s 200 meters.
– I believe that tomorrow I will be able to challenge harder, when there is perhaps a more suitable distance for me, Piispanen said and he knew what he was talking about.
Although Piispanen didn’t get a good start in the 200 meter final, he was able to raise his positions as a good bender and in the final straight went to Belgium by Peter Genyn past. The difference between the two at the finish was 0.23 seconds, Belgium To Roger Habsch Piispanen lost by less than a second.
At the same time, Habsch’s final time was a new competition record of 36.76. Piispanen still holds the class world record of 36.35, which he set last summer in Jyväskylä.
– This was a really good bet. Actually, the kind that I have done at my best in home exercises. It was a surefire, good bet. No surprise, but considering the situation, really good, Piispanen said after his performance.
With Piispanen’s second medal, the Finnish team has achieved six medals at the Paris Games and the same number of places for next summer’s Paralympics.
A World Cup medal and a second World Cup final within a day might make an athlete confused, but an experienced race-goer assured that preparing for the second final was easy. In 12 years, Piispanen’s medal balance has already grown to 22 prestigious competition medals.
– I knew that the second one doesn’t need to accelerate hard in the first 20 meters. It’s a little more forgiving. I knew I could be stronger in this and I was, she grinned.
Piispanen did not agree with the concern about the condition of the hand, as he believes it will improve with a little rest.
– That’s about it, he assured and exclaimed before leaving for the award ceremony:
– Greetings to Finland everyone!