Elina Lampela, the Finnish pole vaulter who won the indoor championship last year, announced that she will not participate in the upcoming Finnish Championships in Espoo. Her absence has been confirmed by her name missing from the event's participant list. Lampela took to Instagram to explain that she has been dealing with health problems that started in January and persisted into February, leaving her unwell ahead of the competition. After resting, she plans to resume her training for the summer season.

Last Sunday, Lampela had her first indoor competition in Sweden, but it resulted in a disappointing jump of only 402 cm, far below her personal best of 464 cm achieved last summer. Experts noted that although her training had been going well, the results did not reflect her capabilities during the competition. Iltalehti’s expert Arto Bryggare expressed confidence that Lampela, when healthy, has the potential to clear 460 cm.

Lampela is a two-time outdoor pole vault champion and the reigning silver medalist in the indoor championships, which adds to the significance of her absence from the upcoming event. Her health struggles not only impact her current performance but may also have implications for her future competitions as she aims to recover and prepare effectively for the summer season ahead.