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Athletics: A call to Tero Pitkämäki revolutionized Heltelä's career
🇫🇮 Finland /Sports

Athletics: A call to Tero Pitkämäki revolutionized Heltelä's career

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Pole vaulter Wilma Heltelä won a European Championship silver medal in Birmingham, overcoming significant difficulties.
  • Her collaboration with coach Tero Pitkämäki began a year and a half prior, initiated by manager Tero Heiska.
  • Heltelä, then known by her maiden name Murto, had been on psychiatric leave in March 2025, a situation Pitkämäki was aware of.

Pole vaulter Wilma Heltelä has secured a European Championship silver medal in Birmingham, marking a significant comeback after overcoming considerable personal challenges.

Her successful partnership with renowned coach Tero Pitkämäki, a former Olympic javelin medalist, commenced about 18 months ago. The collaboration was facilitated by Tero Heiska, who serves as both Pitkämäki's former manager and Heltelä's current manager.

Pitkämäki was aware that Heltelä might reach out to him for coaching. Heiska had alerted him to this possibility. The initial contact occurred in April 2025. At that time, Heltelä, who was then competing under her maiden name Murto, had been placed on medical leave by her psychiatrist the previous month.

The article implies that Heltelä's mental health struggles were a critical factor leading to her seeking Pitkämäki's guidance, suggesting her situation was quite serious.

Wilma's situation was quite critical.

— Wilma HelteläHeltelä describes the severity of her condition that led her to seek coaching from Tero Pitkämäki.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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