Vilma Viitanen, 21, and Pihla Kaivo-oja, 20, of the Tampere Strength and Conditioning Association, are top prospects in Finnish boxing. The athletes who were successful in the prestigious youth competitions are now trying to get to the Paris Olympics.
The European Games, a multi-sport event organized by the European Olympic Committees, will take place in Krakow, Poland, from June 21 to July 2, 2023.
– I have dreamed since I was seven years old that I would one day be in the Olympic ring. It seems absurd that that moment could be so close.
For an ordinary sports follower, the European Games might not sound like much. For a 21-year-old boxer To Vilma Viitasen however, it is a unique opportunity to realize a long-term dream.
The multi-sport event, which started on Wednesday in Krakow, Poland, serves as a qualifier for next summer’s Paris Olympics in many sports. One of these sports is boxing, where the top four in each weight class get a place in the five-ring competition.
Viitanen is aiming for an Olympic place in the 57 kg category. He’s a club mate Pilha Kaivo-ojan20, with great hopes for the future of Finnish boxing.
The two representing the Tampere Strength and Conditioning Association have won medals at the under-22 European Championship, but now they face the biggest challenge of their careers.
The best of Europe will gather at the Kraków boxing tournament.
– The level of European boxers is very tough. There are several top strikers and globally successful boxers in the group, says Kaivo-oja, who competes in the 50-kilogram division.
Viitanen and Kaivo-oja are only at the beginning of their careers, but both believe in their chances in the qualifying round.
The recently ended training camp left a mark on Finnish boxers and coaches Maarit Teurose and To Askar Sarsenbayev feeling confident. The Finnish national team athletes camped for a couple of weeks in Assisi, Italy, with the European elite. In sparring, they got to put their fitness to the real test.
– Boxing always also requires the luck of the draw, but nothing is impossible in this sport. I’ve had good scalps before. In the European Games, I leave absolutely everything in the ring, says Viitanen.
In a dream job
Viitanen grew up in an acting family, who moved from his hometown Mikkeli to Tampere at the age of 16 to get top-class coaching. He calls it the best decision of his life.
– It was clearly the right step on the way to becoming a professional athlete. I was able to go to a sports high school in Tampere, besides, the city is the best place for boxing in terms of conditions, Viitanen says.
– The only minus is that the family is not that close. However, we are within driving distance and call every day.
Former team gymnast Kaivo-oja has also not been afraid to take big steps for the sake of boxing. He moved from Kangasa to Tampere and has lived a disciplined sportsman’s life for several years.
– I don’t think I’ve made sacrifices, because now I’m doing what I love. It’s great that I get to do this full time and focus my life on boxing.
The European Games are not the only way to get a ticket to Paris. If the matches do not go as expected in Krakow, the boxers can aim for Olympic spots in the world qualifiers in March and May of next year.
– This is the best chance to get to the Olympics, because there are fewer places in the world qualifiers. However, you have to remember to enjoy these games as well. It is already a big achievement in itself that I get to represent Finland in this tournament, says Viitanen.