30 years old | “All the time you see a lot of athletes who are just now reaching their prime,” says Nooralotta Neziri

A fencer Nooralotta Neziri has returned to his old hometown Pori in autumn after five years spent in Jyväskylä. By all accounts, the reception has been good.

“People welcome you home,” says Neziri.

What is the best thing about Pori?

“People’s immediacy and humor. Pori is also a fairly small place. People come to talk to me easily.”

Thereto has of course gotten used to it before, after all, Neziri is one of Finland’s most famous individual athletes and the sharpest top of domestic athletics.

However, recently Neziri has not been running, but focused on the future. In August, the bone spike that was bothering the hound was cut, and the autumn has been spent rehabilitating. At the same time, steps have been taken with the new coach.

Has the athlete, who is used to a disciplined life, now had more time for things other than training?

Yes and no, says Neziri.

“I wore a boot for the first six weeks after the operation. I could have, in good conscience, taken a little vacation, but basically I just stayed home and did what I could do. That in a way I couldn’t enjoy the moment when I could have lived a little more freely.”

Now everyday life is getting back to normal, and life is planned around training. Of course, the rehabilitation phase is still on. It means a slightly calmer training, Neziri explains.

“The training intensity is lighter because I’m not running yet.”

“There are no workouts that make you feel bad,” he elaborates.

Athletics Neziri ended up in a couple at school age, partly as a result of tragic coincidences. In 2000, the family was involved in a deer accident, in which Nezir’s mother was seriously injured. As a result, the family moved to Meri-Pori.

The brisk and brave girl ended up at the local sports club Kyläsaari Kajastu’s training at her uncle’s urging. Since then, the road led to Pori Athletics, where the talents of the young athlete began to be revealed to others. Neziri ran his first races as an oar only when he was 15 years old, which is relatively late.

“I had thought for a long time that black would become a sprinter or a long jumper. I won the Finnish championship in the 80 and 200 meter hurdles in that age group. That’s where it started pretty soon.”

In addition to the adult Finnish championships, Neziri has also done well on international racetracks. He has reached the semi-finals at the Olympic, WC and EC levels. Along with the talent and determination needed to get to the top, he also has the right physical characteristics.

“I’m a physical runner, and when I was younger I was really resilient. Of course, I still am, but now my strength is strength and power output. And a pretty tight step, which suits the sport.”

So as important a role as sport has played in life, it was not the number one dream, Neziri reveals. When he was younger, he dreamed of acting.

“At school, I was in every play, show and host job. I’m also quite eager to do all kinds of things. For example, I was in a mountain car race, even though I had never seen a mountain car before.”

Maybe that’s why the publicity that comes with elite sports feels somewhat natural to him.

“At a fairly young age, I had to or was able to do public sports. I kind of grew up with it.”

Neziri still remembers the story done by Ilta-Sanomi from the early years of his career. At that time, he was only a 16-year-old pledge.

“The headline was ‘Girl you can become a star'”.

He became a star. At the same time, publicity tends to pile extra pressure on the athlete’s shoulders.

Of course, being in the public eye has its downsides, but Neziri estimates that he still remained on the plus side. It is true that visibility brings an athlete sponsors – and much-needed money.

“Yes, publicity has brought me, for example, partnerships. It has made it possible for me to be able to do sports as a profession.”

Sports career Neziri, who is turning thirty years old, has not yet thought about the afterlife very carefully. There are some dreams, but they will come later.

“I have been educated and I know that I will not support myself after my sports career with the money I may have earned in the sport. However, I can’t say what I would do. Rather, I look at what opportunities life offers when that situation arises.”

“I would like to work in sports in some way, perhaps in the role of Manager.”

Neziri admits that he feels a bit conflicted about his age: he is no longer young as an athlete, but there are still quite a few people in their thirties.

On the other hand, aging is also beneficial for an athlete, he thinks. Age brings with it experience, understanding and self-confidence.

“I myself thought when I was younger that I could no longer play sports in my thirties. But all the time you see a lot of athletes who are just now reaching their prime.”