Obstacle course champion Topi Raitanen is known for his good manners. We got a sample of that again in Friday night’s gold rush.
Friday night in Munich has already turned to Saturday, when a group of five Finns sit in the restaurant of a Munich hotel.
It’s enough to talk over a beer, because Top Raitanen has just a few hours earlier won the 3,000-meter steeplechase European championship.
Raitanen and the other Finnish medalist of the evening, silver in the triple jump Kristiina Mäkelähave returned to the hotel and received a festive welcome.
Among the medalists, Raitanen is on the side of the restaurant sitting with the rest of the team, until he decides to sit at the tables of the Finnish supporters. There are a few tables to go around, because the Yleiserluhefanit ry, which organizes domestic athletics package tours, has been able to accommodate Finnish fans in the same hotel as the athletes.
Raitanen hangs out at dinner parties and takes part in group photos. However, the master also has time for conversation. The gesture is highly appreciated by the fans.
– After all, he’s a great man when he knows how to engage his audience, Jyrki Sahi describes Raita and receives approving nods from the rest of the party.
Sah’s circle of friends has arrived in Munich to cheer on the Finnish athletes, but as staunch supporters of endurance running, Raitase had a special position in the decision why the group decided to go to the European Championships in Munich in the first place.
The comrades have known each other since 1982. At that time, the paths of the five were joined by an event called Suomi-juukko, which celebrated Lasse Virénin Long track double, 5,000 and 10,000 meter Olympic victories achieved in Munich in 1972.
– One of our acquaintances can explain (SpongeBob) Nopone like the Munich 5,000 meters. He has performed at our party and had Munich in mind, Jussi Tuomikoski says and continues:
– We wanted to go on a trip to celebrate Virén’s gold medals 50 years ago and the connection they have created in this race of life. It was a tender moment when Raitanen arrived at the finish line as a winner after all these years.
Although Raitanen took the top spot about 200 meters before the finish and was able to keep his opponent behind him with a clear margin, the tension in the stands remained until the last dry obstacle.
The reason can be found in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final of the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki, where the US Henry Marsh crashed at the last hurdle, missing out on a sure medal.
– It is too well remembered, says Jyrki Niva.
A rare moment
The Finnish team will return home on Monday with a balance that is at least as good as its best in the 2000s championships.
– Wilma (Burglary) broke the ice. It’s great that such a traditional Finnish sport is back on the map, says Markku Niva.
After the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam, Finnish athletics wandered in the zero club in terms of medals until Wednesday. On Friday, however, the precious metal came at a pace where even the most enlightened supporters couldn’t keep up.
– It was a great few minutes. Kristiina’s silver jump was a bit missed when Topi’s victory was celebrated, Pekka Niva tells.