Taekwon-Do in Finland will get more publicity on Friday the 6th of December when our two new world champions Pauliina Hietaniemi (sparring -50kg) and Sami Koskela (special techniques) will attend the Finnish President's reception to celebrate our Independence Day. The reception is the year's most significant celebratory event in Finland where representatives of the state, cities, economy and organizations and other distinguished persons such as artists and athletes are invited to. 1800 people are invited to this year's event.
The invitation is a great recognition after a long and successful career for both athletes. Hietaniemi has won the world championships twice before in patterns (2007 and 2009) and also the European championship in patterns in 2008. Koskela started his career in competitions in 1996. He has previously placed second (2004) and third (1998 and 2000) in Euros before his big win in this year's world championships.
Both athletes have announced that they will continue their careers so hopefully more success will follow in the next European championships in Riccione, Italy 25.-27.4.2014.
Heli Karjalainen, V dan
President of ITF Finland