Athlete profile: Jani Soininen

Posted: Tue February 3, 1998 at 5:00 PM ET

Athlete notes

From the same hometown as legendary Finnish ski jumper Matti Nykänen, Soininen has flown into the elite this season, winning two December World Cups - one in Lillehammer, Norway and Predazzo, Italy...Soininen first announced himself to the jumping world four years ago in Lillehammer...Soininen, who began jumping when he was eight, around the same time that Nykänen won his first world championship, came to Norway as an unknown, but left with a fifth-place finish on the large hill and a sixth-place on the normal hill..."It was a little surprise for me too that I jumped so well," says Soininen of his performance. "When I knew that I would be there, I thought that I cannot go there and jump badly"...until this season, his results have been solid but not spectacular...his consistency, though, has made him a stalwart for the team competition, and he was part of the Finland's World Championship-winning teams in both 1995 and 1997...but for Soininen, the individual competitions have much more importance..."Of course, I am very satisfied to win those team competitions," says Soininen. "But it is more better to do well in the personal competitions"...Soininen was disappointed by his efforts in the individual events at the 1997 World Championships in Trondheim, Norway where he was 11th on the large hill and sEventsh on the normal hill..."Last year I was a little disappointed because I was jumping very well in training before that (Worlds)," says Soininen. "I think I was trying too hard, that's all. I think I have to be more relaxed and jump my own jumps. And that's what I have been doing this season"...Soininen has not lacked for confidence -- he believes that on any given day, he can be the best jumper in the world..."It felt good because it helps to know that you can beat the others," says Soininen. "Now, I know that I can beat anybody if I jump good"...still, he feels no pressure to improve upon results in Nagano..."I don't feel any pressure," explains Soininen. "I jump my own jumps, I concentrate on my own jumps. You just have to jump very well and have good luck"...he does expect to do well on his preferred large hill at Hakuba, where the Finnish team trained last September..."The large hill is very good there -- it's new. The small hill I don't like -- it has an old profile"...though he prefers jumping on the large hill, he does not believe that he performs better on it -- "If you are in good form, you just jump as well as you can and it makes no difference -- I believe that"...according to Soininen, his biggest strength is his mid-air form which, ironically, was also the most difficult part of his transition from the V-style...unlike his teammates Ari-Pekka Nikkola and Mika Laitinen, Soininen required only one year to complete his switch to the V-style...on the transition, Soininen notes: "The hardest part was the flying because the takeoff was about the same in both styles. But the takeoff is very important because if you are delayed in your takeoff, it is more difficult to have a good flight"...he believes that he must still iron out his takeoff -- "There is a problem in the takeoff but they are not so big problems"...Soininen works in a sporting goods store during the offseason...his father is an electrician while his mother works in a bank...he enjoys windsurfing, walking his Great Dane, and spending time with his girlfriend -- "We do things like normal young people do," says Soininen rather hesitantly...Soininen speaks English...