One of the most successful Nordic Combined athlete of all times, Finn Hannu Manninen, might be seen at the competition arenas in the next season. Manninen has activated his FIS-code and shortened his qualifying period to three months in preparation for a possible comeback. During his past career Manninen achieved 48 victories in FIS Nordic Combined World Cup, a number which still has not been reached ever since. 

After participating in Finnish National Championships in last spring, Manninen felt the urge to get back into the Nordic Combined competition mode. ”All started in Taivalkoski. After the competition I thought that I could maybe compete more again. So that’s were the idea of a comback came to my mind”, Manninen was quoted by the Finnish Ski Association.

During the summer, Manninen has worked on the formalities to return to competing but the big decision whether he will make a full comeback as an athlete has not been taken yet. "I have activated my FIS-code and done all the official things to get back to next season”, Manninen explains. ”But it has been five years since I ended my career. During these five years I have been at home, taking care of my family and started my profession as a pilot. I do not want to give up those things. I will train and compete beside my family time and my profession as a pilot. That is the time I can use for training and competing. I want to try and see which level I can achieve with this combination.”

The 38-year-old has trained triathlon for the past three years and competed in his first Ironman race this summer. His basic physical level is excellent and the next steps will now be focussing on specific qualities for Nordic Combined. ”More cross-country training during the fall, speed and strength and of course climbing up on the ski jumping hill”, Manninen reported about his course of action. 

When asked about the Lahti2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and thoughts around the big highlight of next winter, Manninen does not want to set any goals. ”I haven’t set any specific goals for the next winter. But of course, I havethe idea in my mind that maybe I could compete in Lahti in front of my home audience. But like I said I do not have any specific goal for the next season, I just would like to train as well as I can and we will see on which level I can get”, Manninen concluded.

The head coach of the Nordic Combined Team Finland, Petter Kukkonen, is pleased about Manninen’s thoughts and promises the full support of the national team, if Manninen will achieve the international level in training. ”We have built up our own training system and timeline with our young team. We will continue to work with that. But of course Hannu is welcomed to the team and will get the full support from us. This kind of an athlete will bring positive things to the team in any way”, commented Kukkonen.

Source: fis-ski.com