Finnish Championships
- June 17-20, 2021
- Kuntolaakso Swimming Hall, Kuopio, Finland
- Long Course Meters (50m)
- Meet Page
The Finnish Swimming Championships kicked off yesterday in Kuopio, Finland. The meet, which is hosted by the Finnish Swimming Federation and Kuopio Swimming Club, is a four day event that features some of the country’s top swimmers competing in their final competition prior to the Olympic Games later this summer.
As much as ten years older than some of his competitors and the oldest athlete in the field, 27-year old Matti Mattsson came away with the win in the men’s 200 breast on the first day of competition at the Finnish Championships. The national record holder in both the 100 and 200 breast, Mattson easily cruised to the win in the 200 breast during finals of the first day of competition. He touched in a final time of 2:12.36, easily ahead of the runner-up Tapio Junninen (2:15.87).
Mattsson was well off of his Finnish record time of 2:08.26 that he swam at the European Aquatics Championships earlier this year. His time from that meet currently ranks him as the 9th fastest performer in the event in 2021
Also winning an event on the first day of competition was Mimosa Jallow, who finished with the top time in the women’s 100 backstroke. Like Mattsson, she led by a large margin, touching in 1:00.73 to runner-up Fanny Teijonsalo’s time of 1:02.14. Jallow holds the national record in the event, having set it at 1:00.28 at the 2018 European Championships. At that meet, she was the only Finnish swimmer to win a medal, claiming bronze in the 50 back.
Jallow wasn’t done after her first final of the night, as she also competed in, and won, the 50 fly. She won the event by just over half of a second, touching in 26.57 for her second gold of the night. Also competing in the field was Ida Hulkko, who was the silver medalist in the 50 breast at the 2020 European Championships. Hulkko took 7th in 28.16.
Coming off of his first major international medal at the 2020 European Championships, 32-year old Ari-Pekka Liukkonen claimed gold in his signature event, the 50 free. Liukkonen easily finished first in the event, touching in 22.32. In May he touched in 21.61, beating out Ben Proud and Kristian Golomeev for the European title.
Other Day 1 Winners
- Women’s 200 free: Laura Lahtinen – 2:04.91
- Men’s 1oo breast: Niko Makela – 54.14
- Women’s 400 IM: Launa Kasvio – 4:54.30
- Men’s 200 back: Aku Kaila – 2:03.73
- Men’s 1500 free: Roope Paatos – 16:10.86
