Kalle Lassila not surprised by the Niskans' decisions - disagrees with one saying: 'The issue has been exaggerated'

Kalle Lassila understands why Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen decided to train outside the A national team ahead of the winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

Both Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen will not participate in the team training session until November, a decision that has drawn some public concern regarding the future of Finnish women skiers.

However, Lassila expressed that this decision should not come as a shock, given that Iivo Niskanen made a similar choice two years ago.

He noted that both Niskanen siblings have a clear plan about their training and possess the resources needed for their preparation. He dismissed concerns from fans about the impact of their absence on the younger generation, stating that the coaching dynamic has rich historical roots that can guide the next wave of athletes.

Lassila pointed out that while younger athletes might miss out on direct learning experiences with the seasoned athletes, they would still benefit from the well-established coaching structure within the national team. He emphasized that the main goal is to create a cohesive team capable of functioning effectively, citing that the current team includes several excellent international-level competitors.

Furthermore, the debate surrounding the utility of having veteran skiers in training has been amplified, but Lassila advised against overstating the challenges posed by not having Kerttu and Iivo present during team practices.

In the men's A national team, athletes such as Ville Ahonen, Niko Anttola, Ristomatti Hakola, Perttu Hyvärinen, and others will be preparing for upcoming competitions. Lassila believes the absence of newcomers like Miro Karppanen would not hinder the advent of new talent, highlighting that ups and downs in an individual athlete's career do not nullify their potential to excel.

Moreover, he recognized that the spotlight is now on Edvin Anger and the rest of the skiing squad as they work towards their Olympic ambitions. The upcoming Olympic selections will award a total of eight Olympic start spots to qualified Finnish male athletes.“