The fencing champion was happy about his teammates’ medals.
The Finnish audience following athletics had hardly had time to recover Wilma Murron from Wednesday’s pole vault gold, which ended a streak of six years without a medal, while more blue and white medals were added to the team’s chest on Friday night in Munich.
Raitanen’s top barrier gold and Kristiina Mäkelän loikkahpea warmed up Murto, who was at the stadium watching his teammates’ achievements.
– I had time to sit in the stands for fifteen minutes when Topi won the gold. It was pretty great to experience the same thing from the other direction as well, just like at the award ceremony, Murto recounted the star moments of the evening when returning from the fountain near the Finnish team hotel, where Raitanen and Mäkelä had received their medals just like Murro.
Murto was able to watch the finals from the VIP seats, where the organizers had upset the champion as an apology. It led to Thursday night’s award ceremony, where Murro was not played a familiar version of the Maamme song. Estonia’s version of Maamme is very similar to Finland’s, but according to Murro, the anthem played to him was like a mixture of both.
– I’ve been told that the Estonian national anthem plays the A part and the B part, and that’s it. In the Finnish version, the A part, B part and B part are played again. I was played part A, part B, part A again and part B again. So it wasn’t really either. I noticed that it’s a bit strange, but I didn’t think much more of it, Murto said and laughed.
According to Murro, the organizers made up for their mistake with interest.
– I received a princely apology today. I was asked to visit the stadium because the organizers wanted to apologize personally. I got a bouquet of flowers and was able to eat. In addition, I was able to watch Topi’s race from the stands.
– They gave a very official letter, in which it was hoped that their mistake would not cast a shadow on my experience. I was just to the point that I didn’t really even notice anything, but thanks. So it ends well, all is well, Murto said.
The team’s success warms you
With two more days left for the European Championships in Munich, the Finnish team has already secured its best trophy since the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2006 – even then the balance was two golds and a silver. The last time the team returned from the European Championships with a better balance was in 1974.
– We have progressed quite a lot as a national team in the last four years, Murto said and referred to the Berlin Games, where Finland was left without an EC medal for the first time since 1966.
Murto rose to the attention of those who follow athletics in 2016 by jumping the still valid youth world record of 471. Mainly due to injuries, the next record improvement was only seen in August of last year. Five long years required nerves from a young talent.
– Even though there have been ups and downs and all kinds of episodes, none of the problems would have been so deep that this trip wouldn’t offset them at the latest. It has been worth it, 24-year-old Murto said.
– The best results come when you focus on achieving your own success. But on nights like these, maybe you notice the wider meaning of sports success and that our team has a bright outlook. After winning the championship, it has warmed my heart that it is not only cool for me, but it is also cool for others. That it has been helpful to others. It has been surprising how many have said thank you and not just good luck. It has been a great and surprising experience, Murto said.