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Samuli Suomalainen

Finland

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSFIN11509199801
NOCFinland
Born15 Sep 1998 in  Helsinki
GenderMen
OccupationStudent
LanguagesEnglish, Finnish, Swedish
ResidenceHelsinki, FIN
Higher educationEconomics, Finance - Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences: Helsinki, FIN
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 35.27 09 Mar 2018 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:09.21 10 Mar 2018 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:46.45 27 Jan 2024 Salt Lake City, UT  
    5000m 6:44.98 30 Sep 2023 Inzell  
    10000m 16:02.11 05 Mar 2023 Seinäjoki  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamHelsingin Luistinkiitajat: Helsinki, FIN  
Name of coachJanne Hanninen [national], FIN  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/samuli.suomalainen.9  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementPlacing third in the 500m at the 2017 Junior World Cup events in Collalbo, Italy, and Inzell, Germany. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHe followed in the footsteps of his brother. "My mother told me to go and try it to see if I liked it."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis parents. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2023)  
Hero / IdolFinnish ice hockey player Teemu Selanne. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating at age 10 at Oulunkyla Ice Rink in Helsinki, Finland.  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"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)  
Famous relativesHis younger brother Joona Suomalainen has represented Finland in speed skating at junior level, and competed at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Baselga di Pine, Italy. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Jan 2021; luisteluliitto.fi, 26 Jan 2019)  
InjuriesHe 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)
 
AmbitionsTo win a medal at the world championships. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Awards and honoursHe was chosen as the best speed skater of 2020 by the Finnish Association of Sports Journalists. (iltalehti.fi, 13 Jan 2021)  
Other informationCOACHING 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)
 
HobbiesChess, fishing. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2023)  
Superstitions / Rituals / BeliefsHe puts on his left skate first. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships Team Sprint5  
    2018/2019 European Sprint Championships Overall15  
    2020/2021 European Sprint Championships Overall16  
    2022/2023 European Sprint Championships Overall18  
    2023/2024 European Single Distances Championships 1500m19  
    2016/2017 European Sprint Championships Overall19  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1000m19  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1500m19  
    2018/2019 World Sprint Championships Overall23  
    2023/2024 World Allround Championships Allround23  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m34  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1000m38  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1500m40  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1500m40  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification Mass Start43  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1000m49  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m52  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 1500m57  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1500m62