Ahead of the Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships 1st Division from 27-29 June, we take a closer look at each team.
Here we take a look at Finland, who have yet to break into the top 10 of Europe, but with some emerging names, could be contending for that elusive status in Madrid 2025. The Nordic nation’s best-ever result has been 11th in 2015, 2019 and Silesia 2023.
They are typically closely matched with Sweden, and the battle to be the top Nordic nation in the European Athletics Team Championships is an interesting sub-plot to the competition in the Spanish capital, as well as a continent-wide preview for the annual season-ending Finnkampen match between the two nations.
Flashback to 2023
In Silesia 2023, Finland scored 282.5 to retain their place in the top tier. They were also a mere 0.5 behind their big rivals Sweden, who just pipped them to a top ten place.
Defending European champion Wilma Murto carried Finnish expectation, and she duly delivered, winning the women’s pole vault with 4.71m. There was also a fine third place from 20-year-old Silja Kosonen in the women’s hammer with 72.34m.
Track Record
- Bergen 2009, Norway (2nd place) - First League
In the first edition of the European Athletics Team Championships, Finland finished in second place in the First League to earn promotion to the top flight. Competing within the relatively familiar climes of Scandinavia, they scored 289, to finish runners up to Belarus (332), but ahead of hosts Norway (279).
Their traditional strength in the javelin came to the fore with fine victories for Kirsi Ahonen in the women’s event with 55.68m and a superb 86.78m by 2007 world champion Tero Pitkämäki to win the men’s competition.
- Bergen 2010, Norway (12th place) - Super League
Back at the same venue a year later and the Finns had a more chastening experience. In the Super League, they finished rock bottom 12th for a quick return to the second tier. Their best results were third places for 2006 European champion Jukka Keskisalo (men’s 3000m steeplechase) and Ari Mannio (men’s javelin).
- Cheboksary 2015, Russia (11th place) – Super League
Back in the Super League in 2015, the three relegation places were filled by the Nordic nations with Sweden 10th, Finland 11th and Norway 12th. The ever reliable Tero Pitkämäki gave the Finns a moment of glory, winning the men’s javelin with 84.44m.
- Cluj-Napoca 2021, Romania (6th place) – First League
In the second tier, Finland had a mid-table finish with 265 points which ultimately led to promotion to the top division of sixteen teams. They also finished as the leading Nordic nation, just 0.5 points ahead of Sweden, with Norway 22 points behind in 10th. The outstanding performance came from Senni Salminen who set a national record of 14.63m to win the women’s triple jump.
Key athletes
- Ilona Mononen – women’s 3000m steeplechase
The 2021 European U20 champion is a fine endurance running prospect, she also won bronze in the women’s U23 race at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships. As national record holder and having placed sixth at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, she is now making an impact on the senior stage.
- Silja Kosonen – women’s hammer
Long one of the brightest prospects in Finnish athletics, with world U20, European U20 and European U20 titles all to her name, she is now making an impact on the senior stage.
Fifth at both the Paris Olympics and Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships, as well as fourth place at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships. She also launcher a huge personal best of 77.07m to win at the European Throwing Cup, She is Finland’s biggest hope for maximum points in Madrid.
- Joonas Rinne – men’s 800m, 1500m
A multiple national champion over 800m and 1500m, Rinne also has a 1500m bronze from the World University Games in his collection. Having set a new national record of 3:35.20 for the 1500m on home turf at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku on 18 June, he comes to Madrid high on confidence and in good shape.
- Samuli Samuelsson – men’s 100m, 4x100m
An international athlete for over a decade, he carries Finland’s hopes in the sprints where he will face some tough opposition. But if he can deliver solid performances in the 100m and in the 4x100m, it will be a valued contribution from Samuelsson.
- Senni Salminen – women’s triple jump
The 29-year-old enjoyed a career highlight when winning bronze at the Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships, her first major medal. Having set a national record at the European Athletics Team Championships four years ago, she will be looking to reignite the spark in Madrid.