Hurdler Viivi Lehikoinen to miss Finnish Championships due to ongoing health issues

Hurdler Viivi Lehikoinen will miss the Finnish Championships (Kalevan kisat), having not registered for any event, according to Tilastopaja. Her team confirmed the decision, stating that the athlete is taking things day by day.

Lehikoinen, 26, has had a difficult season, competing only once. She ran the 200 meters in 24.66 seconds in Turku on May 26, describing it as a "training run." The runner has been tight-lipped about her condition, having withdrawn from the Lahti Games in early June due to a health setback. Instead of competing, she traveled to London for medical consultation.

"Honestly, it's heartbreaking to watch competitions from the couch, but I believe I am in capable hands with my issues," Lehikoinen wrote on Instagram. In early July, she shared on social media that she was making slow progress. "Health presents challenges that must be considered in training and in normal daily life," she stated.

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Honestly, it's heartbreaking to watch competitions from the couch, but I believe I am in capable hands with my issues.

Lehikoinen, who represents HIFK-Friidrott, has faced adversity before. She set numerous youth national records between 2013 and 2017, winning the U18 European Championship in 2016. However, her progress stalled for three years until she changed coaches in 2020. Under Laurent Meuwly, she set new personal bests, including a Finnish record of 54.40 in the summer of 2023, though this record has since been broken by Hilla Uusimäki.

Diagnosed in the fall of 2024 with chronic asthma and sleep deprivation leading to overexertion, Lehikoinen's recovery has been ongoing. While lung recovery showed positive signs in the fall of 2025, her difficulties have persisted this summer. She risks losing her ranking spot for upcoming championships, including the European Championships in Birmingham from August 10-16, as she has not met the direct entry standard of 55.30 seconds.

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Health presents challenges that must be considered in training and in normal daily life.