European Athletics Championships: Alisa Vainio's coach emotional after marathon win

Alisa Vainio delivered a sensational performance to win the European Athletics Championships marathon in Birmingham, setting a new championship record with a time of 2:22:26. The Finnish runner broke away from the field early in the race and maintained a commanding lead, ultimately crossing the finish line nearly five minutes ahead of her closest competitor.

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Alisa received the reward she deserved.

Her coach, Jarmo Viskari, struggled to contain his emotions as he watched Vainio secure the gold medal. "Alisa received the reward she deserved," Viskari said, visibly moved after collecting his thoughts. He described the victory as a "great moment" and a significant prize for Vainio, acknowledging that their journey had not always been easy.

Viskari noted that Vainio's pacing was strong from the start, with the first five kilometers run in 16:20, a pace that would have secured a silver medal in the Finnish national championships. Despite the challenging course, which had been noted for its hills, Vainio appeared to face no difficulties, executing her race plan flawlessly, including at aid stations.

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Yes, this is a great moment. It hasn't always been this easy, by any means. This is a big prize for Alisa.

"Her performance was incredibly strong throughout," Viskari observed, having followed the race broadcast. "I didn't notice any difficult moments. The clock confirmed it."

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I had the opportunity to follow Yle's broadcast, which showed expressions and gestures. It was very strong performance all the time. I did not notice any difficult moments. The clock told the same.

He attributed Vainio's overwhelming victory to her bravery in establishing an early, significant lead that competitors struggled to close. Viskari praised her commitment to training and her deep love for running as her greatest strengths, suggesting that if others in Finland showed similar dedication, the country would have many more medalists.

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Probably everyone had done their homework, that it's a tough course, that it's not worth starting fast. Alisa was brave and gained an advantage that was difficult to overcome because Alisa didn't slow down at all.