In a significant move aimed at reshaping the future of Finnish elite athletics, the Finnish Olympic Committee (Suomen Olympiakomitea) has announced the appointment of six high-profile experts to key leadership and support roles. Following an extensive recruitment process that drew nearly 100 applications, these appointments mark a deliberate effort to refine the country’s high-performance ecosystem, improve the daily quality of life for athletes, and enhance coaching leadership across national sporting federations.
The new appointments include four Elite Sport Managers—Jaana Jokinen, Jarno Koivunen, Robert Pääkk, and Toni Roponen—alongside Suvi Pajunen, who assumes the role of Expert Operations Manager, and Laura Spiridovitsh, who takes on the newly defined role of Coaching and Leadership Competence Specialist.
A Rigorous Selection Process: Quality Over Quantity
The recruitment drive was initiated earlier this spring following the conclusion of the previous term for several elite sport managers. According to Janne Hänninen, the Finnish Olympic Committee’s Director of Elite Sport, the goal was not merely to fill vacancies but to assemble a diverse, multidisciplinary team capable of navigating the increasingly complex demands of international competition.
"We received nearly 100 applications for these demanding roles, and the caliber of talent was exceptionally high," Hänninen noted. "The selection process involved a rigorous two-stage interview structure. Our priority was to build a group that represents a wide spectrum of sports backgrounds, deep institutional knowledge, and, crucially, proven success in the high-performance arena. We are looking for people who understand the international competitive landscape and can translate that into actionable strategies for Finnish athletes."
Profiles of the New Elite Sport Managers
The four individuals appointed as Elite Sport Managers bring a wealth of experience from both the field of play and the administrative side of sport.
Jaana Jokinen
A Master of Sports Sciences and a former elite judoka, Jokinen offers a unique perspective as an athlete-turned-administrator. Having represented Finland at the 2012 London Olympics and secured a top-five finish at the World Championship level, she possesses an intimate understanding of the mental and physical rigors of Olympic competition. Post-retirement, her career in administration—serving as the Coaching Manager for the Finnish Judo Association and the head of the Three Campuses Sports Institute’s training center—has prepared her to bridge the gap between grassroots development and podium success.
Jarno Koivunen
A career professional coach, Koivunen is widely recognized for his instrumental work with world-class pole vaulters such as Wilma Murto and Minna Nikkanen. His appointment signals a focus on technical coaching excellence. His background as an Elite Sport Manager for the Turku Region Sports Academy and his tenure as a national team coach for the Finnish Athletics Federation (SUL) ensure he brings a pragmatic, "hands-on" approach to athlete management.
Robert Pääkk
Pääkk, who holds a Master’s degree in Sports Sciences and Sports Psychology, represents the growing importance of the "whole-athlete" approach. His resume includes stints as the Coaching Director for the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation, Lead Expert in Mental Coaching at the Finnish Olympic Committee, and Cross-Country Skiing Coaching Manager for the Estonian Ski Association. His interdisciplinary background will be vital in integrating psychological support into the broader elite performance framework.
Toni Roponen
A familiar face to many, Roponen is a Master of Sports Sciences whose career has spanned multiple continents and disciplines. From coaching Olympic-level cross-country skiers to serving as head coach for the Finnish Biathlon Team and the University of Denver’s cross-country ski program, his depth of experience is profound. Having served as an Elite Sport Manager for the Olympic Committee since 2022, his retention ensures continuity in the organization’s ongoing strategic objectives.
These four will work alongside Jukka Rautakorpi, the Committee’s team sports specialist, who remains in his position, ensuring a blend of fresh perspectives and institutional stability.
Expert Operations: The Backbone of Support
The appointment of Suvi Pajunen as the new Manager of Expert Operations highlights the Committee’s commitment to the science of performance. Pajunen, a veteran sports physiotherapist, brings extensive experience from the front lines of high-performance sport. Having served as the lead physiotherapist for the Finnish Olympic Committee, the national cross-country skiing team, and the Research Institute for Olympic Sports (KIHU), she is uniquely positioned to streamline the expert network.
Her role is critical: she will coordinate the team of experts—ranging from nutritionists to biomechanists—who support athletes during their daily training blocks and at major international events like the Olympic Games. This ensures that the support provided is not sporadic but systematic and integrated.
Elevating Coaching and Leadership
Perhaps the most strategic addition to the leadership team is Laura Spiridovitsh, who assumes the role of Coaching and Leadership Competence Specialist. Holding degrees in both Sports Sciences and Business, Spiridovitsh transitions from her role as the Development Manager for the Finnish Figure Skating Association.
Her mandate is to oversee the national coaching development network. By fostering deeper cooperation between sports federations, sports academies, and educational institutions, she will lead the charge in establishing a standardized, high-quality leadership culture across all sports.
"Strengthening coaching and leadership competence is one of the pillars of our new strategy," explained Liisa Ahlqvist-Lehkosuo, the Committee’s Director of Sports. "This role is vital for the entire Finnish sports system. Quality coaching and effective leadership are the bedrock of athlete development, sustained success, and a healthy organizational culture."
Implications for the Future of Finnish Sport
The restructuring of the Finnish Olympic Committee’s expert team comes at a critical juncture. The landscape of international sport is changing; the margins for victory are thinner than ever, and the pressure on athletes is increasing.
The Shift Toward Integrated Support
The new team is designed to move away from "siloed" support structures. By integrating coaching, psychological support, and physiological monitoring under a unified management team, the Committee aims to provide a more holistic support structure for athletes. The focus is no longer just on training volume; it is on "daily quality"—the micro-decisions and support systems that determine whether an athlete stays healthy, focused, and motivated over a four-year Olympic cycle.
Strengthening Institutional Collaboration
The emphasis placed on the roles of Pajunen and Spiridovitsh suggests that the Committee intends to act more as a facilitator and less as a top-down regulator. By coordinating the work of federations and academies, the Committee is attempting to solve the fragmentation that has historically plagued some smaller sports organizations. The objective is to create a "best practice" pipeline that applies whether an athlete is a swimmer, a skier, or a gymnast.
The "Culture of Excellence"
The overarching theme of these appointments is the creation of a "sustainable operating culture." By focusing on leadership competence and coaching education, the Committee is investing in the human infrastructure of Finnish sport. This suggests a long-term vision that looks beyond the next Olympic cycle, aiming to build a system where elite performance is a predictable outcome of professional processes rather than a sporadic stroke of individual genius.
Official Response and Looking Ahead
The response from the leadership of the Finnish Olympic Committee has been one of optimism and resolve. Janne Hänninen emphasized that the team is ready to begin work immediately in close cooperation with the various sports federations.
"Finnish elite sport is currently undergoing a period of transformation," Hänninen concluded. "We are building the future together with this new team, in close partnership with the sports themselves and the entire high-performance network. The work begins now, and the focus is squarely on providing our athletes with the absolute best environment to realize their potential."
As the organization moves forward, the success of this new leadership team will be measured not only by medal tallies but by the feedback from athletes regarding the quality of their daily training environment. With a blend of scientific expertise, coaching experience, and administrative acumen, the Finnish Olympic Committee appears well-equipped to face the challenges of the modern sporting era.
Key Contact Information:
- Janne Hänninen: Director of Elite Sport, Finnish Olympic Committee, +358 40 553 3388.
- Liisa Ahlqvist-Lehkosuo: Director of Sports, Finnish Olympic Committee, +358 40 592 5109.
