Ristomatti Hakola, a Finnish cross-country skier, has been left out of the country’s 4x7.5 kilometer Olympic relay team, which has caused some controversy due to his established history in the team since 2019. Head coach Teemu Pasanen announced that the best possible team has been chosen, which includes Lauri Vuorinen, Iivo Niskanen, Arsi Ruuskanen, and Niko Anttola. This decision comes after Hakola’s recent performance, where he did not meet expectations in the combined race, while Vuorinen showed strong results in previous competitions.

Hakola has participated in every major relay event for Finland since 2019, making this exclusion a notable shift for the team dynamics. Pasanen explained that Vuorinen’s strong sprint performance and capability as an opening skier justified the decision, as the opening leg typically demands a certain skill set that Vuorinen is suited for, especially in challenging conditions that could occur in the Olympics. The statement is framed around the notion of selecting the team based on current performance metrics rather than past credentials alone.

The implications of this decision may extend beyond the immediate Olympics; it raises questions on the selection process and how established athletes like Hakola are evaluated against newer competitors. Critics might argue that past contributions to the team should not be overlooked, while supporters of Pasanen’s strategy might see this as a necessary pivot towards building a more competitive team. The future of Hakola’s career could hinge on how he responds to this setback and if he can regain his place in subsequent competitions.