The athletes on the national team describe the resigning Petter Kukko as a determined and passionate coach who has worked ten years out of love for the sport.
Zhangjiakou.
Combined long-time head coach Petter Kukkonen wrote an inconsolable message on Twitter on Tuesday.
“I apologize. I will never coach anyone again. Shocking disappointment and all the work in complete vain. The passion is gone, ”the message came.
Behind was the second personal race of the Beijing Olympics combined, which ended in a disappointing Finnish way.
Traveled to Beijing with medals Ilkka Herola was only 16th and Eero Hirvonen 20: s. Arttu Mäkiaho 24: s and Otto Niittykoski 34: s
Kukkonen’s team did not receive a personal medal in these competitions, and there was no success in the team competition either.
Kukkonen commented on his inconsolable tweet the next day Ylelle and said he still agreed.
There had been a fire in the coaching and he had begun to doubt his own abilities badly.
“I wouldn’t want to miss the dreams of very many athletes anymore,” he said.
Kukkonen as early as December, he said he would stop coaching the combined national team after this season, and it was no surprise.
Kukkonen has been touring the world as Finland’s head coach for ten years.
Last spring, he said In an interview with Karelia, that year may be a good time to listen to what the wife wants to do in her life.
The Finnish national team is very much the creation of Kukkonen. When he started in 2012, the old top names had stopped, and the team plowed quite deeply. The current first name of the combined Still Herola was just a promising junior.
During Kukkonen’s head coaching season, Herola, 26, has won World Championship silver and succeeded in the World Cup
What is Kukkonen’s legacy?
“A hard work culture and a functioning system will remain,” Herola concludes.
“In his time, a national team has been built that can train professionally.”
Anyway, according to Herola, the national team package is in order.
For example, even now the association has a path along which a talented junior can advance from the youth series to the national team.
main Purposeful and passionate. Meaningful and energetic.
These quality words, often associated with sports, are used by national team athletes to describe Kukko.
Kukkonen is also cool, like Perttu Reponen notes. The list could also be bold and honest.
A year ago, Kukkonen was attacked by colleagues from many countries and by the decision-makers of the International Ski Federation FIS, when he brought up a gimmick in hill suits.
There was no solution, but perhaps the worst fraud was left out.
“He’s really passionate about the combined. He has lived for ten years out of love for the species, ” Arttu Mäkiaho says.
It is also related to the costume episode or even the disappointing tweet that Kukkonen lives strongly with emotion. Also in a competitive situation.
And as the forward-thinking coach belongs, Kukkonen constantly strived to develop not only his athletes but also himself.
Perhaps the biggest and even more important legacy for national team athletes is warm friendships. Kukkonen’s team is like one family.
“The combined team is certainly one of the best in its team spirit. Pede has been busy for so long that there would have been a rift if the spirit had been bad, ”says Mäkiaho.
“Even at leisure, we have a lot to do with each other. It’s been a nice year, ”says Herola.
Otherwise than Kukkonen ten years ago, gets a new head coach to lead the finished team.
Ilkka Herola plans to continue to the 2026 Olympics, unless something special happens.
“I’m not tiring of any five-year plans, but I see no reason why I shouldn’t be at the next Olympics.”
Perttu Reponen, 19, is a young talent and Arttu Mäkiaho’s career has also been on the rise.
Eero Hirvonen also intends to continue, but wants a clear improvement in earnings.
“With this banging on the wall, we have to fight for at least better placements if I am to be involved in the next Olympics,” says Hirvonen.
“I have no compulsion to play sports, because there is more to do in life.”
Hirvonen has snapped six podium players in the World Cup in his career, but the last few years have been more difficult.
At the Olympics, he was 17th and 20th in personal competitions.
“Evenly thick,” he summed up the Beijing results.
To Hirvonen The decision to quit Kukkonen brings the biggest change.
Kukkonen has also served as his personal coach, and will hardly continue in the position.
“I look forward to what the future will bring and how I will build my own package,” says Hirvonen.
“It depends a lot on how the national team is organized.”
He regrets that the combined team did not receive a medal in Beijing.
“It would have been great to have a crown for Pede’s contract. Toki Ilun [Ilkka Herola] World Cup – silver is one of them. ”
Petter Kukkonen photographed at Puijo in Kuopio.
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