Suvi Minkkinen, a biathlete from Joutsan Pommi, drew significant local support during her performance at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. Competing in the sprint distance, Minkkinen executed a flawless shooting round, becoming the only Finnish athlete to achieve such a feat during this race and subsequently securing sixth place overall in the competition. This performance elicited excitement and pride among local supporters who gathered at Joutsan yhtenäiskoulu to cheer her on.

The atmosphere in the school watch party was electric, with fans expressing a mix of hope and disappointment regarding Minkkinen's performance. Although the shooting aspect of her competition was exemplary, concerns about her skiing speed lingered. Local enthusiasts Kati Lavia and Anssi Saarela were among the crowd, optimistic that Minkkinen had the potential to medal in the upcoming pursuit race scheduled for Sunday, citing her strong skills in this area and her reliable shooting.

This event reflects the close-knit community's support for Minkkinen and highlights the significance of her achievements in the context of local and national sports. As anticipation builds for the pursuit, expectations remain high for Minkkinen, with many believing that she is capable of bringing home a medal if she can replicate her shooting performance and improve her skiing pace.