Men
FIN
Samuli Suomalainen
FIN- Date of birth15 Sep 1998
- Height173 CM
- ProfessionStudent
- HometownHelsinki
- Place of birthHelsinki
- Start skating Club He began skating at age 10 at Oulunkyla Ice Rink in Helsinki, Finland. Helsingin Luistinkiitajat: Helsinki, FIN
- HobbiesChess, fishing. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2023)
- LanguagesEnglish, Finnish, Swedish
- CoachN/A
- ChoreographerN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- Practice low seasonN/A
- Practice high seasonN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
He was chosen as the best speed skater of 2020 by the Finnish Association of Sports Journalists. (iltalehti.fi, 13 Jan 2021)
"Getting to the top of the world requires hard work every day, strict adherence to the training programme and faith in what you are doing." (yle.fi, 21 Jan 2021)
Finnish ice hockey player Teemu Selanne. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)
His parents. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2023)
He underwent a surgical procedure in November 2021. He returned to competition the following month for the World Cup events in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America, and Calgary, AB, Canada. (is.fi, 07 Jan 2022)
He withdrew ahead of the second day of the 2021 European Sprint Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands, due to back spasms. (yle.fi, 17 Jan 2021)
He withdrew ahead of the second day of the 2021 European Sprint Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands, due to back spasms. (yle.fi, 17 Jan 2021)
To win a medal at the world championships. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Placing third in the 500m at the 2017 Junior World Cup events in Collalbo, Italy, and Inzell, Germany. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
COACHING CHANGE
He says he has improved under coach Janne Hanninen, who took over as head coach of the Finnish national team after Peter Mueller was removed from the role in December 2019 following a poor run of results. "Janne was firm with his thoughts on my skating technique, which is what he has been helping me with. My training has also become more sprint focused during Janne's time, which is more suitable for me." (yle.fi, 21 Jan 2021, 03 Dec 2019)
He says he has improved under coach Janne Hanninen, who took over as head coach of the Finnish national team after Peter Mueller was removed from the role in December 2019 following a poor run of results. "Janne was firm with his thoughts on my skating technique, which is what he has been helping me with. My training has also become more sprint focused during Janne's time, which is more suitable for me." (yle.fi, 21 Jan 2021, 03 Dec 2019)
He puts on his left skate first. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
He followed in the footsteps of his brother. "My mother told me to go and try it to see if I liked it."
