Lappeenranta awards marathon champion Alisa Vainio 20,000 euros

Lappeenranta has celebrated marathon European champion Alisa Vainio with a significant financial reward and a unique honor. The city presented Vainio with a 20,000 euro prize during a public celebration on Saturday. Her coach, Jarmo Viskari, was also recognized for his contribution, receiving 5,000 euros from the city. Adding to the accolades, a running route encircling Lappeenranta's airport will be named after Vainio, further cementing her legacy in her hometown. The city had previously confirmed to Sanoma's sports desk that Vainio would be rewarded for her European Championship victory. The decision for the prize was made during a city council meeting, with officials opting to keep the details of the reward a surprise for the public celebration. Thousands gathered at Satamatori square to honor Vainio's achievement, which was a highlight for the Finnish team at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Vainio dominated the marathon, leading for nearly the entire race and setting a new championship record with a time of 2:22:26, finishing an impressive 4 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

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The city decided on the prize during Monday's meeting.