Finnish team return from South Africa full of confidence

The Finnish athletics team returned from their intense training camp in South Africa last month. The team returned from the training camp full of confidence for the up and coming European Athletics Championships that will be held in front of their home crowd in Helsinki.

The South African camp provides the Finnish athletes with similar weather conditions that will be expected next summer in Helsinki during the European Athletics Championships. The camp was held in the South African city of Potschefstroom, which is regarded as an academic city, as well as been locally known as the “Home of sport”.

One of the Finnish athletes that participated in the training camp was the 1500m runner Johanna Lehtinen. Johanna has been plagued with injuries over the last few years, but now is in much better condition and will be hoping to give her all at the Helsinki games.

- “At the South African camp I tried to enhance my basic training because the recovery period is more effective in warm conditions. This will provide me with the best preparation for next summer”, stated Lehtinen.

Two other Finnish athletes that returned from the training camp were Pole Vaulters Jere Bergius and Eemeli Salomäki. After returning from the camp, the two vaulters will be looking to the indoor events during the winter period and then focusing their attention on preparing for the Helsinki event.

- “I am not thinking about the Olympics, as I want to limit the amount of stress I have. First I will concentrate on the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Then after that the push towards the Olympics”, highlights Bergius.