“Competing at the highest level motivates me,” says Kaia Tanskanen.
24.10. 18:12
Danes the family’s achievements in gymnastics are significant. From Jyväskylä Jani Tanskanen In 1997, he won gold in the sledging world championships in Lausanne. His brother, Juha Tanskanenhas won several Finnish championships.
Juha’s daughter, who is preparing for her first World Cup, also wants to leave her mark in the history books Kaia Tanskanen. Kaia, who proudly bears her last name, lives with her parents in the US state of Michigan, but represents the Finnish national team.
“I was born into a family of gymnasts, so I grew up in a gym owned by my parents. I have loved the sport since day number one. Competing at the highest level motivates me,” says Tanskanen, who communicates in English.
Although Tanskanen doesn’t speak more than a few words of Finnish, it’s easy to notice the chemistry between him and the other members of the national team. Constantly making fun of his teammates, Tanskanen feels the Finnish culture as his own, even behind the bat. The decision to represent Jyväskylä Gymnasts instead of the American club was therefore easy.
“When he was young, we came to Finland to spend time to understand the local culture. Kaia wants to represent Finland because she wants to make her father and uncle proud. She tried other sports when she was little, but in the end she quietly sneaked back to the gym,” says Kaia’s mother and coach Kim Tanskanen.
However, according to the talented 17-year-old trapeze gymnast, it is not easy to coordinate the busyness of everyday life.
“Life between Finland and the United States is of course demanding, as it involves a lot of travel. It’s fun, though, because arriving in Finland is always like a new adventure,” Tanskanen laughs.
Kaia from Denmark (left) is coached by her mother Kim Tanskanen.
In June Tanskanen celebrated the silver medal in the quadruple competition of the balance beam. In August, he produced the most memorable performance of his career so far when he came fifth in the World Challenge Cup Jumping Final in Paris.
“I was completely shocked when I made it to the finals against Olympic athletes. It gave me more faith in the future, because I know I can still improve. Landings in particular still require development,” says Tanskanen, who describes himself as a strong, rather than elegant, balance beam gymnast.
The next opportunity for feats is just around the corner, as the World Cup in Liverpool starts on Sunday. Tanskanen is the only World Cup debutante of the Finnish women’s team.
“Already in Paris, I was very nervous waiting for my turn, so the World Championships will be an even tougher test. I want to measure my own level against the world’s best.”
of the European Championships all four members of the Finnish women’s team, which made it all the way to the World Cup stage, will participate in the World Cup in addition to the team competition, in the quadruple. The men’s team’s achievements in the European Championships were not quite enough for a place in the World Championships as a team, but Akseli Karsikas, Robert Kirmes and Elias Koski go to England to seek personal success.
The three best teams of the World Cup will clear their way directly to the Paris 2024 Olympics. You can also qualify for the Olympics through next year’s World Championships or the World Cup.
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