Jonni Sarkkinen, 21, who entered the wrestling qualifying tournament as the underdog, surprised the people of the sport and showed that he can beat anyone only on a good day.
Finnish wrestler Jonni Sarkkinen21, took an overwhelming semifinal victory over the Hungarian against all expectations on Friday from Zoltán Lévais At the Olympic qualifying tournament held in Azerbaijan. The four other qualifying matches of the day also resulted in victories.
The victory over 28-year-old Lévai also secured Finland’s first Greco-Roman wrestling spot at the Paris Olympics in the 77-kilogram category.
– It was the best race day of my life. It was a pretty incredible feeling when the win came. Didn’t even realize how to ventilate it. The Hungarian has always been a bad opponent for me in training, but now in the games it went incredibly well, Sarkkinen told Urheilu in an interview.
The wrestler from Jyväskylä, who attends the Mäkelänrinne sports high school in Helsinki, was surprised by how easily the victory came from two years ago’s World Cup silver medalist Lévai.
– I know that he is in excellent shape and I expected him to set the pace, but he started to pace. I was surprised how easily that match was handled.
Urheilu’s wrestling expert and former European champion Jarkko Ala-Huikku was dismayed at how the Hungarian wrestled.
– Lévain has been among the top five in the world in the 77-kilogram category for the past 6-7 years. Jonni wrestled at the extreme limits of his level and it happened when it was supposed to. This was a surprise for us wrestling people. We’ve known Jonni’s potential for the last couple of years, but performing as an underdog at that level was a great performance.
According to Ala-Huiku, something clicked in the Hungarian’s head when the Finn took a 3–0 lead in the semifinals.
– When the competitors stood up, Lévain made a mistake, which Sarkkinen turned to his advantage.
Did the Hungarian even open his jacket against Sarkkis?
– It’s possible, but it’s hard to say. Lévain comes from such a wrestling family that there must have been a lot of grief after the match from the coach. I’ve never seen that kind of mistakes from him. It was also Sarkkinen’s goodness that he attacked the Hungarian’s bad starts.
“A smile could be heard all the way to Finland”
Sarkkinen is a second-generation top athlete. Sarkkinen’s father Pasi Sarkkinen is a wrestling coach and executive director of the Wrestling Association. Mum Tuuli Matinsalo is, on the other hand, a two-time aerobics world champion.
Isä-Sarkkinen accompanied his son to the Baku qualifying tournament.
– After the decisive victory, we congratulated and patted each other on the back. There was a really happy and warm atmosphere in the group, the elder Sarkkinen said.
Pasi Sarkkinen has wanted to cool down the biggest expectations for his son, and the possible Olympic place in Paris was previously only talked about as a possible big bonus.
– When the international level of the 77-kilogram category was studied, the possibilities were considered quite small. A positive surprise.
Sarkkinen’s Tuuli mother followed her son’s progress at home in Jyväskylä.
– I don’t remember when I was so excited. We called after the last match and yes, Jonni’s smile could be heard all the way to Finland. Happy and content dude over there.
– I’m leaving for the airport to meet Jonni, and I’m sure we’ll at least eat together. I bet Jonni also likes the food after that week.
Father-Sarkkinen, however, calms down the party buzz.
– However, Jonni’s everyday life resumes immediately on Monday. There are not many days of celebrations organized at this stage.
You look in Paris
The Paris Olympics are just over three months away. Finland has been represented at the Olympics in wrestling continuously since 1906. Finns have won a whopping 83 medals.
Before yesterday, no one would have believed that Sarkkinen would be the wrestler who would be the first to secure a place for Finland at the Olympics: especially in the “brutally tough” 77-kilogram category.
– In wrestling circles, we never dare to say these things out loud. This (Olympic site) is a massively big deal for our sport. Those of us who work in the sport every day know how fierce that competition is.
Does the 21-year-old Sarkkinen have a chance to succeed in Paris?
– Yesterday’s semi-final win showed that he can only beat anyone on a good day, says Ala-Huikku.
The athlete himself says that he is focusing on basic training before the summer Olympics.
– I am looking forward to Paris with great interest. You can still do basic training in peace.
The Paris Olympics will be shown on channels on July 26. – 11 August 2024. As far as wrestling is concerned, the competition for superiority will take place on the 5th-11th. between August at the Champ de Mars Arena.