Marika Teini: from nightmare to the race of her life
Posted on | May 2, 2016 | Category: Arena, News
On Saturday, Marika Teini had to retire from her race due to a health problem. But on Sunday, Marika got up to the podium for the first time in an individual World Cup race.
The early starter had to sit in the leader chair for a long time, but after a while an extra chair was needed when Tove Alexandersson finished in an equal time. In the end it was third equal place for Marika: “It was great to do so well!”
– How is it to share the place?
“Really good. It would not have been so nice to be just a second or so slower and not be in the top three”.
Photos: Erik Borg
Unexpected warmth
In Finland and the Nordic countries it has been a cold spring. Marika didn’t at all expect it to be almost full summer in Poland, and hadn’t brought her allergic medicine for pollen. She suffers from asthma too, and the forest race close to Sobotka ended early for her because of problems in breathing. But in Wroclaw her health was good again.
In the Sprint Final she ran a super race. Eighth place was her previous best individual result in the World Cup. “It’s so great with this achievement”, she says.
Never gives up
The big change from Saturday to Sunday shows a bit how Marika thinks. She’s not for giving up at all, however hard the obstacle is. During her career she has had a lot of injuries, but she hasn’t stopped. “I have seen other girls coming back”.
She didn’t give up in Poland either, and achieved a new best performance in her sports life.
Finnish girl power
Marika Teini was the best on an incredible day for the Finnish women: there were five Finns among the 15 best. A great inspiration for the Finnish women to build on, and also for the Finnish men to improve further. In the Sprint, young Aleksi Niemi was best in 20th position. Good – but the Finnish girls are better.
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