Athlete of the Week: Ilkka Herola (FIN)

It does not matter how many times you fall, what’s important is how many times you get up. Finland’s Ilkka Herola knows this statement to be true, coming into the Nordic Combined World Cup scene as a 17-year-old after one of the worst periods for Nordic Combined in Finland ever. A big slump in performances had the team on the verge of desperation after Anssi Koivuranta left for special ski jumping and after superstar Hannu Manninen retired for the first time in 2011.

Breaking out into the World Cup in 2012, Herola is used to having the bulk of Finnish expectations resting on his shoulders from a young age. Even though the added pressure cannot have been easy to handle at all times and especially also during the home World Championships in Lahti in 2017, which did not end with the hoped for medal for the home team, the now 23-year-old grew up to become a mature, collected and intelligent athlete, much like the often-quoted diamond only being created under pressure. Maybe even more important: with Herola blazing the trail, a number of young, talented athletes followed their calling to Nordic Combined again like Eero Hirvonen, Arttu Mäkiaho or Leevi Mutru.

Howeber, having to battle difficulties on the jumping hill after a great summer 2018 that had Herola’s first-ever victory on the highest level of Nordic Combined events take place in Villach (AUT), was another one of the lows that the 23-year-old had to go through in his still young career.

The way in which Herola carried himself in a difficult time like this shows the Finn’s strength of character: he stayed clam, accepted the situation and tried to find a way forward but, at the same time, kept the necessary lightness and perspective on things in form of Herola’s signature black humour.

In an hilarious Instagram story, Herola even asked users to send in suggestions on how to improve his jumping level again and published and commented the answers (ranging from helium to technical improvements in his inrun position) later on.

This and a well-used training break during the Trondheim weekend had Herola, and also teammate Eero Hirvonen who deserves an honourable mention in this week’s “Athlete of the Week”, bouncing back into the Top Ten on both days in Klingenthal. While Herola, topping off a decent jumping result with the fastest cross-country time, finished just off the podium on rank four on Saturday, his patience paid off on Sunday: rank two was a new career-best in the World Cup for the Finn, who now suddenly returned to the top favourites for his home World Cup weekend in Lahti coming up next weekend and also for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld, which are approaching fast shortly after.

For this phoenix from the ashes story, without a doubt, the top honours for this week’s “Athlete of the Week” go to Finland.