Aino-Kaisa Saarinen Questions the Negative Atmosphere among Female Skiers – "Why Should We Have Warm Relations?"

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen believes that conflicts like those experienced by the women's ski team likely arise in other elite sports environments as well. She draws comparisons to more conventional workplaces.

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen has transitioned into a role as a cross-country skiing expert at Yle Sports following her successful skiing career. On October 9, 2024, the continuing issues of atmosphere within the women’s ski team surfaced again when Laura Arffman’s biography of Krista Pärmäkoski, Avoin, was published.

Pärmäkoski recounted tense circumstances when she took a break from the national team in 2019 during the summer and autumn training period. During common mealtimes in the Val Senales camp, she felt that there was a desire for her to be elsewhere. Her experiences suggested that the atmosphere was draining for her.

These themes have previously been raised in Pekka Holopainen’s 2016 biography of Aino-Kaisa Saarinen. Why is the atmosphere of the women’s national ski team consistently scrutinized? Now working as an expert, Saarinen doesn’t understand why the women’s ski team is often put under such harsh criticism.

She believes similar dynamics exist in various sports where competitions for places and representation are fierce. "During trips, one might have to share a hotel room with a fierce competitor. When you're closely involved, fatigued, and under pressure, conflicts invariably arise," Saarinen explains.

Despite the competitive environment, Saarinen emphasizes that significant trauma isn’t likely to result from these situations. She adds that individuals representing Finland aren’t selected simply based on friendship but on their abilities to achieve results.

Saarinen reflects that it does not need to be a requirement for team members to maintain close relationships akin to those expected in other workplaces. "You can appreciate your colleagues' work, but you don’t have to hang out or be best friends with them all the time," Saarinen states.

Through her decades-long skiing career, some genuine friendships have formed, as indicated by Pärmäkoski’s accounts of friendships developed with other team members. Furthermore, choosing team members for prestigious competitions can sometimes lead to discontent, similar to competitive workplaces where someone may obtain a desired position, leaving others disappointed.

She wishes to remind that life in other national teams isn't always as rosy as it may appear, referencing past conversations with Kikkan Randall, a gold medalist from the 2013 World Championships and Olympic champion from 2018, who expressed that it may not always reflect reality.

Amidst ongoing discussions about the atmosphere within the team, Saarinen notes that the women have historically excelled in cross-country skiing. She posits that the obstacles to success aren’t typically due to someone saying something but could stem from a lack of competitive tension.

As discussions regarding atmosphere have emerged, Saarinen anticipates that Pärmäkoski’s biography might prompt dialogue on the subject rather than drastic actions within the national team.