There are thousands of athletes in Finland who sacrifice everything every day to achieve their biggest dream: the Olympic dream. One such athlete is Jenna Partanen, a taekwondo athlete supported by Lainasto.
Eighty thousand people cheer when the athletes step onto the turf of the legendary Maracanã. The audience of billions has settled down on their couches, ready to celebrate the start of the two-week season. The Rio Olympics are about to start.
Spectators only see the happy surface of the athletes. They see that all the athletes are excited to be a part of the world's finest sporting competition. However, they don't know how much all the athletes have fought to even be a part of the Olympic dream.
An opportunity to make a dream come true
These times Jenna Partanen one's own struggle is concretized into a suspense drama that measures the last physical and psychological resources. The last chance to claim an Olympic place is at hand.
Taekwondo's last competition spots, participation rights to pursue your own dreams, will be awarded at the European Olympic qualifying competition in Istanbul on January 16-17, 2016. The best two in each weight class get tickets to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The competition is tough and merciless, but Jenna Partanen, competing in the under-67-kilogram weight class, is one of those athletes who has an excellent chance of beating all her competitors and grabbing a place at the Olympics. This is ensured by the typical traits of a successful athlete: talent, hard work, dedication and passion.
However, the recipe for a successful athlete also includes more than perfect traits. The training must be top class and the athlete must make sacrifices.
Partanen is supported by a talented duo
An athlete can determine the direction of his own career development, but coaching determines the pace. Competent coaching gives the athlete the conditions to realize his full potential for success.
Partanen, who represents the Taekwondo athletes 2011 club, is surrounded by a competent duo whose task is to ensure that no stone is left unturned and that development proceeds at the desired pace.
Partanen's personal trainer has been cooked in many broths, Teemu Heino, himself an Olympic athlete preparing for the Olympic qualification in Istanbul. The second coach is Jesus Ramal, Olympic coach of the Finnish Taekwondo Association, who has described Parta as Finland's most promising young taekwondo player. It was Ramal's trust in Partanen's abilities that led to Partanen's full-time life as a top athlete following Ramal's teachings in the fall.
Moving into the unknown
When autumn came, Partanen moved to Madrid to train full-time in Ramal's teachings. The step was not only athletically significant, but also a change measuring mental strength. A real sacrifice. The familiar environment changed to a new and unknown one.
"In addition to moving to train as a top athlete in a foreign country, where all communication takes place in a foreign language, I also moved away from home to live on my own. My first own home is abroad in a completely new environment", reveals Partanen.
Partanen lives in the quiet area of San Sebastian de los Reyes, twenty kilometers from the center of Madrid. While most tourists stay in the center of Madrid, English language skills also stay there. In addition to everyday business, this has also been seen in training.
"In the beginning, it was a bit different to do the exercises, when the language caused difficulties. I didn't always understand what to do. Fortunately, Jesus continued to explain and show by holding hands. Things have gone really well with Jesus."
Life in a foreign environment has been busy. Camp and competition trips have taken Parta all over Europe, and the suitcases haven't had time to be packed for long. Despite everything, the investment has made Partase an even stronger athlete and person.
"I think that the benefit of this training trip to Spain will be seen in my life many times over, even years from now. I've learned a lot about the sport I love, from training, and as a bonus, I've become able to adapt to my own and my language skills. It's great that I get to make my dream come true - and I can say that I've done everything I can for this dream," Partanen beams.
The journey is at an important stage
Daily struggle to develop body and psyche. The Olympic athlete has seen many rough days along his journey. Blood, sweat, tears. All the clichés that have become reality as experienced by the athlete.
Even so, the true dream of an Olympic athlete will only come true when the Olympic flame is lit on August 5, 2016.
Then it will also be seen whether Jenna will participate as an Olympic athlete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The decisive stage on the journey is on January 16, 2016 in Istanbul, when Jenna competes in the European Olympic qualifiers.
Partanen and his coach leave for Istanbul excited and confident.
"I'm looking forward to the Olympic qualifiers in Istanbul. After all, this is the peak moment of my career so far. Technically, I'm at my best right now. According to Jesus, my development has been incredibly fast, so he is very satisfied with that," says Partanen.
Taekwondo athletes 2011 and Jenna's supporter Lainasto Oy wish Jenna luck for the qualifiers! Remember to enjoy the journey towards your Olympic dream, remembering that hard work and sacrifice will pay off in the end!
Lainasto Oy is a Finnish financial company that has been offering financial solutions for everyday challenges and the pursuit of dreams since 2011.
