Viveca Lindfors, one of Finland's brightest figure skating stars, announced on Monday that he would unexpectedly end his career at the age of only 21. Lindfors said the reasons for the termination were the long-lasting back problems and the place of study at the University of Turku.

Figure skating legend Susanna Rahkamo was completely surprised by the news.

- It's terribly sad that the careers are so short.

Viveca Lindfors at the Finlandia Trophy in Espoo in October 2018. The following year, the skater's back problems worsened, and he had to miss the World Championships in Japan, among other places.

Photo: Markku Ulander

However, in the midst of annoyance and surprise, an experienced figure skater will also have enough understanding and compassion.

- On the other hand, I also understand that he has been injured for a long time. Sometimes I saw him a few times and thought it would be better with my back. It’s really awkward with your back when it hurts. Of course, I don’t know how sore it is, Rahkamo says.

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    Rahkamo emphasizes that it is difficult to practice and aim for the top when you have to be on the sidelines and miss value competitions. Among other things, Lindfors had to miss the World Championships in Japan in March, only a couple of months after finishing third in the European Championships in Belarus.

    - Viveca missed the World Cup and almost the whole last season. So this is understandable, but really sad. We don't have too many stars. We are a small country, and there are no such peaks growing on every branch, Rahkamo regrets.

    Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko in their winning European Championship program in Dortmund, Germany in 1995.

    Photo: Joachim Herrmann / Lehtikuva

    - We have to be really careful with all our figure skaters, and especially with our tops. There are so few peaks that they have to be cherished, he continues.

    In her career in ice dance, Susanna Rahkamo won together with her partner Petri Koko, the European Championship and the European Championship bronze, as well as the World Championship silver and the World Championship bronze.

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