Athlete profile: Hannu Manninen

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

Athlete notes

For Hannu Manninen, nordic combined is a hometown family affair...Manninen's brother, Kari, is an international nordic combined competitor who ranked 33rd last year, while during practice, Manninen turns to another family member, his father, as personal coach...moreover, Manninen trains right in his hometown of Rovaniemi, Finland, where every year the World Cup makes a stop on its winter circuit..."It is very nice to compete at the Events at home," he says. "I know the hill and I know the cross-country tracks because I have trained on them so much. And the fans give me some power"... Rovaniemi, which is literally lies on the arctic circle, has even made a name for itself in the American media...the town was recently profiled in a Sports Illustrated article on arctic golf...despite the northern exposure, Manninen says he does not mind the never setting sun, he's used to it... lately, Manninen's success has overshadowed his brother's career, who has started to put more time and effort into his computer courses at the university..."We have a little bit of competition between me and my brother, but it is a lot different now," says Manninen. "A few years ago we trained very much together. Now we focus on ourselves especially"... Manninen finished sixth in the overall World Cup standings last year...it was a year from which the young Finn did not even expect that much..."The last two years were mostly for experience and I will take that experience into the Olympics in February," he says, "but I can already tell that this year is different. Every one is working so hard to prepare for the season and the Olympics"...this past summer, Manninen spent time in-line skating, weightlifting, running, hurdling and walking with poles...he says he is not especially stronger in either of the two disciplines, but is constantly working on his strength for jumping..."Last season I was better in some races with my jumping and with some races in my skiing"...if Manninen could just put the two together...at the 1997 World Championships in Trondheim, he had the day's best cross-country time, but had some problems with his jumping... "I was very happy with the result, especially after my strong skiing. It was a big improvement over the last World Championships"...Manninen appears very focused on himself and has few accolades for 1997 World Cup champion and well-known countryman, Samppa Lajunen..."I think he was very good in the jumping last year. He's a very hard trainer, but I don't really follow him all that much"...Manninen is still very young and one of the least experienced competitors on the circuit, but youth probably will not hold him back..."I just started to play golf this summer. My game is not so bad, I'm pretty good"...unless some Sport Illustrated writers were giving him some pointers, he sounds like a confident and quick-learning young athlete...Manninen speaks fair English...