A month ago, Finland announced a preliminary roster of 10 swimmers for the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona. This week, they unveiled their final list that included two additional men: Ari-Pekka Liukkonen and Riku Pytakivi.
Ari-Pekka Liukkonen is the country’s top male sprinter and was 4th at the 2012 European Championships in the 50 free in 22.22. He didn’t have a great meet in the Olympics (he was only 25th in 22.57) but is capable of qualifying for the semi-finals, at least.
Poytakivi is a lesser-known name, but just past 20 years old is a young, talented sprint butterflier with a best of 24.2 in the 50 fly and 55.5 in the 100 fly. He’s been a better swimmer to this point of his career in short course, but he’s already made big strides in long course in the four months.
The 12 swimmers is the biggest roster for the World Championships that Finland has ever had, and is only matched by the 12 swimmers they sent to the 1992 Olympics in the same city. In the 2000’s, Finland has never sent more than 7 swimmers to the meet (2009).
The full roster can be seen alone:
Women
Anni Alitalo
Kivirinta Veera
Tanja Kylliäinen
Jenna Laukkanen
Anna Mäkinen
Emilia Pikkarainen
Hanna-Maria Seppälä
Men
Eetu Karvonen
Matias Koski
Ari-Pekka Liukkonen
Matti Mattsson
Riku Poytakivi
Ari-Pekka Liukkonen has had some minor health issues troubling his progress over his career, but I hope it’s not too late to take the final step into the twenty-one-second club in 50m free. He can’t blame the measaruments as he is 2.08m (almost 6tf 10in) tall.
But if we are left without medals, we blame the Danish as Bo Jacobsen is the new head coach of team Finland. 😉
I haven’t heard the official goals yet but I believe it’s to get some spots in finals and improve your personal bests of course. I’d be pleased to see Matias Koski go inside 3:50 in 400m free.
Is Liukonnen the tallest international level swimmer in the world at the minute? Gotta be close if he’s 6’10″…
Over here Ari would be in B-Ball like Tim Duncan, kris Humphries or Kiki VanDewghe.
I’m not sure. However, he might also be one of the lightest sprinters.
Matias better be way under 3:50….he was 3:50 this summer unshaved!