Aino-Kaisa Saarinen made her one dream true last year by winning her first individual Olympic medal. Another bronze came from the 4x5 km relay. The last part of the season didn't go completely as hoped, and eventually after the season she discovered she had been suffering from mycoplasma for a couple of weeks.
New Coach
During the "off-time" it didn't bother that much and was quickly taken care of by antibiotics. The real project for her spring was to find a new coach after his long-time personal coach Jarmo Riski announced his retirement from elite sport coaching in late March. Finally, it was decided she would be coached by Niclas Grön, who a bit earlier was named as assistant coach in Finnish Cross-Country Team. The spring project was completed.
"It was a long process to re-organize my coaching after Jarmo's retirement, and I am happy we finally got it sorted out. We thought about it a long time, and search for the best possible solution. I know now that this is it. I am really looking forward to cooperate with Niclas. I see his main work as assistant coach for the whole team only as advantage, I see him more that way. When we are on camps, he is a team coach", Saarinen says.
Same Goals
Saarinen is hoping Grön's input would help to improve her free technique skiing. Goals remain the same: she wants to fight about gold medals and World Cup victories also next winter.
"I am looking forward the new details for my training. The basic stuff, the big picture, stays pretty much the same."
Saarinen's spring has not only been about finding a new coach. She also spent a relaxing vacation on Mauritius earlier this month. On May 31st, she travels with the rest of Finnish team to Norway for season's first training camp in Sognefjellet.
Contributed by Heidi Lehikoinen
