Finland Names 32 Athletes for London 2012

“We’ll have realistic expectations for medals in eight disciplines."

The Finnish Paralympic Committee named 32 athletes from 10 different sports on Monday (2 July) who will represent the country at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

 

In Athletics four athletes were named and three more will be chosen by 1 August from a group of five. The final number of athletes will be 35.

 

“Finland will be sending a competitive team for London 2012,” Chef de Mission Kimmo Mustonen said. “We’ll have realistic expectations for medals in eight disciplines. When comparing the team to the one in Beijing (30 athletes), we’ll have more athletes, the average age has decreased and we’ll have more female athletes on team. Those are all very positive things when thinking of development of Paralympic Sport at the elite level.”

 

The Finnish Paralympic Committee has set a goal of winning seven medals in London – one more than it came away with from Beijing.

 

Wheelchair racer Leo-Pekka Tähti is the lone returning Paralympic champion for Finland, having won gold in the 100m T54 sprint in Beijing, in addition to a bronze in the 200m distance.

 

Jarmo Ollanketo and Jani Kallunki are the other returning medallists for the delegation. Ollanketo won a Cycling silver on the road and Kallunki won bronze in the Judo competition.

 

The 32 athletes named to Finland’s team include:

Archery

Saana-Maria Sinisalo (Maarianhamina)

Jean-Pierre Antonios (Turku)

Jere Forsberg (Kotka)

Keijo Kallunki (Mäntsälä)

Osmo Kinnunen (Kerava)

Jukka Petäjä (alternate)

 

Judo

Päivi Tolppanen (Hyvinkää)

Jani Kallunki (Vantaa)

 

Goalball (Women’s Team)

Katja Heikkinen (Lahti)

Krista Leppänen (Tampere)

Maija Somerkivi (Espoo)

Natalie Ball (Helsinki)

Kaisu Hynninen (Vantaa)

Sanna Tynkkynen (Lahti)

Iida Kauppila (alternate)

Goalball (Men’s Team)

Jarno Mattila (Helsinki)

Petri Posio (Kuusankoski)

Erkki Miinala (Espoo)

Ville Montonen (Espoo)

Toni Alenius (Pertteli)

Tuomas Nousu (Espoo)

Petteri Peitso (alternate)

 

Sailing

Niko Salomaa (Turku)

 

Cycling

Jarmo Ollanketo (Haapavesi)/Marko Törmänen (Oulu)

Arttu Mäkinen/Aki Turunen (alternate)

Table Tennis

Esa Miettinen (Kuopio)

 

Equestrian

Katja Karjalainen (Mäntsälä)

Jaana Kivimäki (Kouvola)

 

Swimming

Meri-Maari Mäkinen (Turku)

Antti Latikka (Espoo)

 

Athletics

Wheelchair racing:

Amanda Kotaja (Helsinki/Vampula)

Toni Piispanen (Helsinki)

Leo-Pekka Tähti (Pori)

Javelin/Shot Put

Marjaana Huovinen (Kuopio)

 

Shooting

Minna Leinonen (Jyväskylä)

Veikko Palsamäki (Haapajärvi)