Sjundeå IF’s Malin Karell received FSI’s youth award for her good results in the 2022 season. Kyrkslätt resident Karell says she is proud of the award.
– I was very happy when I heard that I was getting the youth prize. It shows that I did things right and that I succeeded. It feels great, says Malin Karell.
The 17-year-old was awarded the youth prize by Finland’s Swedish Sports Confederation (FSI). She received the award for her outstanding performance last year.
– I had a very successful season last year and made a breakthrough.
She threw a whopping 56.42 with a 500 gram javelin and that was the longest throw in her age group last year. She won FM gold in her age group and came seventh in the senior FM competitions.
– My big goal last year was to take a place in the EC competitions in Jerusalem in Israel, which I also managed to do.
Malin Karell’s javelin flew very far last year. Archive image.
Image: Christoffer Westerlund / Yle
javelin thrower, javelin throwing, Sjundeå IF, Sjundeå, Kyrkslätt, Västnyland, Malin Karell
She came fourth in the EC in her age group. A result she is a little disappointed about. She was the statistic and advance favorite before the EC.
– Just before the EC, I had thrown the longest throw of the season in my age group. In the final I failed quite completely. My throws didn’t work at all in the final so it was a big disappointment, says Malin Karell.
The EC is the biggest goal in 2023
When she opens the competition season in 2023 is still unclear. She will likely throw her first competitive throws either at the end of May or at the beginning of June.
The FM competitions in their own age group, the Kaleva Games and the EC are the biggest goals for the SIF thrower. The U19 EC will be organized in August in Jerusalem.
– I haven’t set any goals for these competitions, but I’m taking it one day at a time and seeing how the rest of the training season goes. Then we’ll see.
Javelin thrower Malin Karell is proud of FSI’s youth award: “I had a good season last year”
Father Marcus Karell is her coach.
– Our collaboration is going great because he supports a lot and helps where needed.
Role models, training buddies and competitors
Five-time Finnish champion and older sister Emilia Karell is one of Malin’s role models.
– Of course she is and so we train together and we are also competitors.
Sisters Emilia and Malin Karell are training buddies and competitors. Archive image.
Image: Linus Westerlund / Yle
athletics, track and field athletes, javelin throw, women’s javelin throw, javelin thrower, Sjundeå IF, Kyrkslätt, Sjundeå
Mikaela Ingberg is another javelin thrower Malin Karell looks up to.
Regarding long-term goals, Kyrkslätt resident Malin Karell reasons like most athletes who want to reach the top:
– Of course I would like to participate in the EC, WC and Olympics, she says and believes that she is not ready for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris. In 2032, the Olympics will be held in Brisbane, Australia, and she will be there.
– It feels more realistic than the Olympics in 2028. Of course, it depends a lot on how the seasons before that go.
