From Skiing Star to Lumberjack: Sami Lähdemäki's Journey

Logging work resembles skiing, says the once-promising athlete Sami Lähdemäki. Photo: Kimmo Hiltunen / Yle

Sami Lähdemäki was regarded as one of Finland’s brightest skiing talents at the age of 18, alongside Iivo Niskanen. One of them went on to become an Olympic champion, while the other embraced a life as a lumberjack.

Text: Joel Holma Images and videos: Kimmo Hiltunen
September 15, 19:00

In the lush late-summer landscapes of Central Finland, a lumberjack dressed in bright orange prepares to tackle his day's work. Tasked with thinning birch groves, his efforts aim to bolster the growth of surrounding spruce trees.

Before he can start his chainsaw, a car rolls past on the gravel road. The driver waves at him.

Sami Lähdemäki waves back, even though he doesn’t recognize the person. Here in Petäjävesi, it’s customary for everyone to greet one another.

Lähdemäki spots several workers present at the job site today, including a Yle filming crew that has just arrived to capture his story.

Sami Lähdemäki begins his logging work using a chainsaw. Photo: Kimmo Hiltunen / Yle

He fills his chainsaw’s tank with gasoline and expresses a bit of surprise about being featured in this story. Beneath the orange work overalls, you’ll find a humble man who was once extraordinary.

A Promising Start

Once upon a time, Lähdemäki wore red as part of the club uniform for Saarijärvi Pullistus. A standout skier in his age group, he was part of a strong cohort in the 1992 Finnish skiing class, which also included the fierce competitor Iivo Niskanen.

Both Lähdemäki and Niskanen were top-tier talents, frequently battling for podium finishes at youth championships. They regularly occupied the spotlight at awards ceremonies.

"I can say we were both expected to do well. Iivo certainly had more victories, but I managed to beat him a few times," Lähdemäki recalls of their competitive spirit.

Hailing from Saarijärvi, Lähdemäki had aspirations of making a name for himself on the World Cup circuit. His talent shone through in international competitions, highlighted by his victory at the Nordic Championships in Kuopio in 2010.

That win is etched in his memory: everything fell into place, and his performance was flawless, even leaving behind legendary Norwegian competitors like Sindre Skar and Martin Nyenget, both of whom later succeeded in the World Cup.

"It sounds impressive now. That was a tough competition," he says with a broad smile.

A year later, he contributed to Finland’s first medal at the Junior World Championships, acting as the lead leg in the men’s relay before passing off to Niskanen, who delivered the bronze-winning finish.

The accolades fueled his aspirations:

"At that time, I thought I could sustain a professional sports career, traveling the World Cup circuit. Strangely, I never pictured myself as an Olympic champion."

In 2011, Lähdemäki earned the prestigious title of Young Athlete of the Year for Central Finland, following in the footsteps of notable athletes like ice hockey player Sami Vatanen and long jump record holder Kristian Pulli.

Diverging Paths

Sami Lähdemäki appreciates the serenity he experiences while working in logging. Photo: Kimmo Hiltunen / Yle

Had Lähdemäki joined Niskanen in the elite ranks of skiing, the driver who just passed his logging site would likely have known his name.

Now, Lähdemäki finds peace in forestry work and at home in Jyväskylä. While Niskanen ascended to Olympic stardom at 22, Lähdemäki remained outside the World Cup spotlight.

But his journey is no less remarkable. Lähdemäki achieved national success, including a seventh-place finish at the Finnish Championships—a more common story than producing a multiple medalist.

He contemplates the obstacles faced by aspiring athletes in Finland:
"I can't pinpoint why some struggle to reach the highest levels; it's very individualized."

Lähdemäki's challenges began after turning 20. "As I transitioned into adulthood, the pressure to show progress and deliver results mounted."

Yet he harbors no regrets: "There's nothing I dwell on."

He relishes his logging job, even with a master's degree in mathematics. At home, he shares a life with a partner and a dog named Lumo.
"Things have turned out well," he acknowledges.

In the summer of 2014, Lähdemäki won the men's Vuokatin Aateli Race, finishing ahead of competitors Anssi Pentsinen and Matias Strandvall.

However, just a few years later, he chose to step back from fully committing to skiing. He still participates in races but on his own terms.

Reflecting on those years, Lähdemäki often wondered why he hadn’t achieved a higher level of performance. He discovered reasons during a reflective period ten years later in Inari.

Today, he still competes in Finnish Championships, viewing his participation as a means to keep in touch with the sport. "The forest work maintains my basic fitness, and when I ski in winter, it enhances my performance."

At the 2023 Finnish Championships in Inari, he shocked himself by finishing 12th in the 10km classical race—an impressive feat that he celebrated, despite Niskanen taking the win.

Sami Lähdemäki aims to maintain his presence in the Finnish Championships, aspiring for a top 20 finish. Photo: Kimmo Hiltunen / Yle

As he sips coffee from his thermos, a hint of seriousness crosses Lähdemäki's face as he addresses why his rise stalled.

"I later recognized that my training wasn’t of the necessary quality," he admits. Interestingly, it wasn't the number of hours—close to 1,000 annually—that was lacking, but rather the methodology.

"I made some training errors as I approached adulthood. There were moments of overexertion, and I should have prioritized rest and better structured my training."

He faced stress injuries that hindered his performance. Yet, he remains grateful for his support network during those times.

"I trained with the best information available; that was my maximum effort. I just have to accept that it wasn't sufficient. That's how I've reflected on it."

Lähdemäki also recognizes that the joy in training sometimes diminished when success was elusive. The climb to World Cup competition proved to be daunting.

"At times, I think I prioritized success over enjoyment, and I don’t know why that was."

Sami Lähdemäki with Lumo the dog in Laajavuori, Jyväskylä. Photo: Kimmo Hiltunen / Yle

About a decade ago, Lähdemäki and Niskanen would log extra training miles together, spending countless hours at national team camps. Nowadays, while their contact has lessened, they still share casual greetings at competitions throughout Finland. Unfortunately, Yle Sports was unable to reach Iivo Niskanen for comment regarding this article.

While some may view Lähdemäki's journey as overshadowed by Niskanen’s soaring success, comparisons do not trouble him.

"I would say I played a part in motivating Iivo. My presence brought competition to him, and that was valuable.