Finnish athletes' grimaces may waste energy, indicate coaching gaps

A reader of Helsingin Sanomat has observed that many Finnish athletes, particularly runners, grimace intensely during competition, to the point of being "distressing to the weak."

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When observing the activities of Finnish athletes, I have noticed that many athletes grimace during their performance to the point that the weakest would be horrified.

Writing as a former runner, the reader recounts personal experience with clenching their jaw during intense effort, which caused pain and ultimately slowed their pace. This habit only changed after observing Kenyan runners in slow-motion replays. Despite running at world-record speeds, their facial muscles remained relaxed. Emulating this, the reader found that keeping their jaw relaxed even under strain made running easier.

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I myself, having actively pursued running in the past, am very familiar with this habit. When running hard, I clenched my teeth forcefully, which caused pain in my jaw muscles and, at worst, in my larynx, and eventually I had to reduce my speed.

The reader hypothesizes that this "grinding" of the jaw and head consumes energy that could otherwise be used for performance. While acknowledging it's unlikely to be the sole reason for Finnish athletes' struggles, they suggest it could be a contributing factor and a visible indicator of shortcomings in coaching.

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I took them as an example and focused on keeping my jaw relaxed even under hard exertion, and my running became easier.