[ad_1]
Finnish athletes have been on the podium at every Olympic Games since the 1908 London Olympics.
The 2024 Paris Olympics ended on Sunday with Finland failing to win a medal for the first time in modern Olympic history.
Despite the strong performances of some Finnish players – including 13 year old skateboarder Hayley Servieux and boxer Pihra Kewo Oja — Finland’s long and proud medal record has come to an end.
Sunday morning marathon runners Camilla Richardson — the last Finnish athlete to compete in this year’s race — finished 65th in the women’s event.
Finnish athletes have stood on the podium at every Olympic Games since London 1908.
Coincidentally, Finland’s best medal tally at the Olympics came 100 years ago at the 1924 Games, which were also held in the French capital.
That year, the Finns won 14 gold medals, 13 silver medals and 10 bronze medals, for a total of 37 Olympic medals.
Finland’s medal totals have been relatively modest in recent years, winning just two medals at Tokyo 2020, one at Rio 2016, and three at London 2012. Finland’s last gold medal was at Beijing 2008, and the only time Finland’s medal tally reached double digits since the 1950s was at Los Angeles 1984.
While the trend has been declining for decades, Finland’s failure to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics will raise questions about government funding, how high-performance sport is managed and promoted in Finland, and declining interest in physical activity among young people.
Users with a Yle ID can comment on our news reports. You can create your Yle ID in the following ways: This linkOur comment and moderation guidelines are explained here.
[ad_2]
Source link
