“In cross-country skiing, you feel the amount of work”

iko Anttola is among the brightest young talents in Finnish cross-country skiing. Skiing seems to be in his blood, as his father has a skiing background in the youth national team, and his older sister competes at the national level. When asked about reliable figures, Niko immediately mentions his own parents.

“As a child, I was involved in various activities. My parents have a skiing background, and skiing felt like the most natural choice. In it, you feel the amount of effort you put in, and you notice when you work towards something,” Niko explains.

Niko has proven his ability to succeed in crucial moments. In January 2020, he clinched the gold medal in the 10 km classic at the Nordic Championship in Falun. In February 2021, Niko contributed to the U20 relay team’s success, securing a silver medal in the 4×5 km event.

Results are not everything for Niko. The young skier aims for the comprehensive development of the skills required in the sport, with the ultimate goal of elevating his own performance.

To succeed in cross-country skiing, one must be able to push oneself to the limit. Enduring intense strain and discomfort are essential. According to Niko, the ability not to give up is one of his strengths as a competitor.

Perseverance and determination are also required in training. According to Niko, cross-country skiing demands a patient character. Results are the product of years of training and hard work. There must be a desire to improve and enough patience.

Does the young skiing talent enjoy rigorous training and physical challenges? “Well, you have to enjoy them a bit, considering how much you do this. Otherwise, it’s challenging to keep doing it,” Niko admits.

“At this stage, the training season means the entire year.”

Work has been done, but there is still a lot ahead. As the new competition season approaches, starting from July, training volumes generally increase progressively. Anttola’s goals are in the adult categories, which means that the young athlete continues to train intensively during the winter season as well. The workload is only lightened around competition periods.

This approach stems from the fact that Niko is not preparing for a specific competition but rather for his future career and the adult categories. The time for peak performance will come sometime in the future. Anttola’s leisure time is also largely spent in the realm of sports and physical activity.

“I play various ball games quite a bit. I enjoy golf, especially in the summer. I used to play golf a bit more seriously, but now it’s more of a hobby,” Anttola explains.

When feeling tired, it’s important to know how to relax. That’s when Niko puts on a good movie and gives his body some rest.

He doesn’t have a single clear role model. Niko generally appreciates athletes who set ambitious goals for themselves and put in a lot of effort to achieve them.

Persistent work requires enduring partners. Niko Anttola expresses satisfaction that Renta is now part of this journey.

“Renta supports me towards the goals I have in sports—and in life in general.”