Finland’s orienteering star has had to answer one question too many times – Olli Ojanaho himself realizes the realities: “Mathematically impossible”

As a junior, he was unbeatable. The junior years gave orienteer Olli Ojanaho six WC golds and many predicted a bright future in the senior class as well. But six years after the junior gold, he still lacks a major competition medal in the men’s class.

The Junior WC in orienteering in Tampere 2017 was a display by Olli Ojanaho. The Rovaniemi guy won all three golds that were awarded. At the same time, he became the most successful male junior ever with a total of six junior World Cup gold medals.

In the eyes of many, he was one of the most promising of all time and the question was not whether he would also reap medals in the senior class, but rather how many golds he will win.

It has been six years since the success at home in Tampere. Rovaniemi has been exchanged for Helsinki, where Ojanaho lives and studies economics and management at Hanken – in Swedish.

He describes that it was more of a surprise than a disappointment that the development came about.

– I knew it would be tough, but that I would have such big problems was a surprise, says Ojanaho in Sportliv.

Although at the beginning of the senior circuit there were no international competitions for almost two years due to the health problems, he did well nationally. For himself, it was an important gauge that gave hope and motivation.

– I have always been mentally quite strong and able to focus on my own work without worrying about what others say. I knew it was about the little things I had to get better at in order to be successful.

Se Sportlivs reportage om Olli Ojanaho:

The recurring question

The morning training session has just finished and Ojanaho sits down in front of the computer to study. Not economics but maps of this year’s WC terrain.

Ojanaho has just been selected for the World Cup in Switzerland in July and can now concentrate entirely on the championship in order to be there and fight for medals. His first major competition medal.

Despite phenomenal success in the junior class, there have been no major competition medals in the men’s class.

– I have often heard from people who wondered why I didn’t become as good as a senior, says Ojanaho.

Ojanaho himself takes it all in stride and doesn’t care what people say. For most people, it takes a few years to step into the senior class. Exceptions exist, of course, such as Tove Alexandersson and Kasper Fosser.

– As a junior, you are very eager and you should be allowed to be. Of course, I also thought that this would probably go well.

For Ojanaho, it was injuries and illnesses that meant that the step up to senior level did not go as expected. The first two seasons he was unable to train as planned and he had to sit out almost all international races due to illness or injury. It was a completely new situation for Ojanaho.

– As a junior, I had never had any injuries or been sick during the competition period. Maybe it was my turn to be unlucky.

Good luck with the terrain

Ojanaho has always been a guy with his feet firmly on the ground. Although he was superior in the junior class, he knew it would take another step up to win medals in the men’s class.

Even without the injuries, he was prepared to wait a few years for senior success.

The many junior successes also depended a little on luck, says Ojanaho. The Junior WC 2016 took place in Norway in mountainous terrain, an environment somewhat similar to that at home in Rovaniemi. The Junior WC 2017 was then at home in Tampere in a familiar type of terrain.

– If these competitions had been held in Central Europe and Switzerland, it may happen that the result would have been different. In the junior class, you benefit greatly from familiar terrain.

Two age classes compete in the Junior WC. Making it there is no direct guarantee that there will be success in the senior class as well. At the WC, there are up to 20 age groups competing for WC gold. The competition is considerably tougher.

– It is mathematically impossible that everyone who won junior World Cup gold would also become world champion in the senior class.

Studies in Swedish

At the age when the change from junior to senior occurs, a lot of other things also happen in life. So also for Olli Ojanaho.

There was a move from Rovaniemi to Helsinki, first to do military service in Sandhamn and then to study. Ojanaho began studying at the Helsinki School of Economics.

Interest in the Swedish language had awakened in junior high school when it became compulsory. The basis for the interest came from the orientation. On competition trips, Ojanaho had made Swedish friends and he decided that he wanted to start talking to the new friends in Swedish instead of English.

– I informed them that from now on we will only speak Swedish. It was a bit tricky at first, laughs Ojanaho.

When it was time to choose a course of study after high school, he was told by his aunt that it was possible to study in Swedish in Helsinki. The choice was simple. It was Hanken.

– I don’t study full-time, but the orientation comes first. I do as much as I can.

The WC dream

The Swiss map scrolls on the screen. There are elevation curves on the map. A lot of elevation curves. This year’s WC terrain will be a lot about reading height curves, running on slopes and trying to avoid unnecessary height meters.

Ojanaho has now spent two winters in France. Two years ago on a mandatory exchange semester from Hanken and this winter on distance studies.

In France, he has been able to train in relevant terrain with a view to upcoming WC competitions. Already last year he was close at the WC when he came fourth in the middle distance.

– Fourth place gave me a lot of motivation and showed that I’m on the right track.

The dream of WC gold feels more real than in years. Physically and technically, he has progressed and approached the very best. Although it took longer than expected, Ojanaho never gave up on the dream.

– I still dream of winning WC gold. I still have many years ahead of me, I’m only 26 years old.

One of the big goals is the WC 2025, which will take place on home ground outside Kuopio. Six years ago, there was a grand slam on home ground in the junior WC.

– It’s a few years away, so anything is possible. I’ve been waiting quite a long time, but if you’re waiting for something special, you can wait quite a long time.