Olympic athletes share romance at South Africa training camp
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By Jarmo Färdig
Even though Tero Pitkämäki and Niina Kelo find time in the midst of their training camp to take a dip in their hotel pool, for a bit of playful swimming, the one-month stay in the middle of the South African summer is rather ascetic.
Both athletes have a very definite goal for next summer - the Beijing Olympics, which begin on the 8th of August.
Pitkämäki, who has already been chosen for the team, has just one goal in China: an Olympic gold medal in the Javelin. Kelo is still hankering for a spot on the Finnish Olympic team, so that she might realise her long-standing dream of taking part in the heptathlon under the Olympic rings.
My early choice hardly makes any difference. Next summer I will simply have to throw far", Pitkämäki ponders, wiping the beads of perspiration from his brow.
The two visited a surgeon at the end of the last season. Heikki Jaroma cleaned out the elbow of Pitkämäki's throwing arm and removed a bone fragment from Kelo's left ankle.
"Better than last summer", Pitkämäki says on the grass-covered practice field of a local university.
"Getting better all the time. In the high jump my foot is still acting up a bit", Kelo says.
The University of Potchefstroom offers a group of about 20 Finnish athletes ideal conditions for training. Everything that they need has been made available, and if something is missing, the hospitable South Africans will get it.
"You can call this a paradise for javelin throwers," Pitkämäki says.
In actual practices they have access to a velvety lawn covering dozens of acres, which includes a full-sized playing field with eight tracks.
Jumpers and throwers have their own areas. In addition , there is a stadium a few kilometres away there is a stadium where it is possible to throw on a tartan surface.
The training centre of North-West University also has also has a training centre with two gyms, the smaller of which is especially to the liking of javelin throwers.
"It's OK to fart there and smell of sweat", says Hannu Kangas, head of the javelin group.
"That's right", Pitkämäki confirms.
Pitkämäki and two other special treatment afforded to him by two other javelin stars have enjoyed special treatment from their hosts. He, as well as Russia's Sergei Makarov and Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen have been given their own keys to the gym. To getting the keys requires either a world championship title or an Olympic victory in the sport.
Thorkildsen is an Olympic winner. Pitkämäki and Makarov are world champions.
Pitkämäki is still sweating for his Olympic dream in Potchefstroom along with his promising assistants Teemu Wirkkala, Terjo Järvenpää, and Antti Ruuskanen .
Pitkämäki says that in normal conditions, a 90-metre throw is required for a gold medal in the Olympics.
"The challengers undoubtedly have the greatest hunger for success. In practices it is not possible to rest for a moment. You have to constantly work hard, with humility", he ponders
When it is time for rest, Pitkämäki does not cut corners.
"Sleep is very important. The basic mistake of many athletes is that too little time is given to pure rest."
Pitkämäki spends four days of exercise at the camp, followed by a day of rest. At least in the previous season the system worked well.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 17.1.2008
JARMO FÄRDIG / Helsingin Sanomat
jarmo.fardig@hs.fi
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| 22.1.2008 - THIS WEEK |
 Olympic athletes share romance at South Africa training camp |
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