Elmo Lakka tore down the barriers – now he opens up about the toughest race of his career and the controversy with Arto Bryggare
When hurdlers dig in their spikes and charge hard towards that first barrier, it’s never just about physical strength. It takes fire, an explosive edge, and that certain something that separates the ones who make it from those left in the shadows of the stadium. Elmo Lakka is exactly the kind of guy who, besides what happens on the track, gets the stands buzzing. And now, he’s back in the spotlight—this time, off the track.
The voice that won’t be silenced
Lakka has done what’s rarely dared in Finnish sports: he’s said out loud what a lot of people are thinking. Earlier this week, his comments about Arto Bryggare sparked a major controversy. The two have a long history, and Elmo wasn’t about to mince words this time either. He doesn’t dance around the issue; he lays it out straight why the shadows of the past still linger.
“Nobody’s here to kiss anyone’s ass,” Elmo says, his voice as sharp as the rhythm of his 110-meter hurdles. This is the Elmo Lakka fans love, the one who sparks the kind of conversation sports media craves: edgy, personal, and above all, authentic.
Lakka, Bryggare, and years of tension
Arto Bryggare is a name that still gets people talking in Finnish athletics—whether it’s about his political stances or his athletic legacy. Elmo Lakka, however, doesn’t look at the past through rose-coloured glasses. He feels that some of Bryggare’s comments and attitudes haven’t exactly been above board. And when Elmo decides to speak his mind, he doesn’t stop halfway.
This isn’t some act. Elmo Lakka is constantly on the move, and the biggest hurdle in his career isn’t the 110 meters ahead, but how to survive mentally through the toughest grind imaginable. The Bryggare saga is just one chapter in that book.
Iida-Lotta Juura – the one who knows the truth
There’s always another side to an athlete’s life, the one the cameras don’t capture. Iida-Lotta Juura has been close to Elmo Lakka for a long time. She’s not just his partner but also the person who sees what happens when the lights go out. Juura has been Elmo’s rock as controversies have rolled in. And when I ask Elmo how he manages to keep going through it all, my gaze inevitably turns to Iida-Lotta.
“She gets it. I wouldn’t be here without her,” Elmo states simply.
For Finnish sports fans, it’s important to see that behind the tough talk is a real person with loved ones close by. Iida-Lotta Juura is that quiet strength that doesn’t show up on the scoreboard, but keeps the engine running.
The track calls – controversies aside
Even though the talk right now is about harsh words and old grudges, let’s not forget why Lakka is in the headlines. He’s still one of Finland’s top hurdlers, a man capable of rattling Europe’s elite. He has something to prove at the summer competitions. Outsiders can twist and turn all they want, but Elmo knows that in the end, everything is decided on the track.
He’s never been the type to settle for mediocre. And that’s precisely the tension that makes him so compelling.
- Getting straight to the point: Elmo doesn’t shy away from conflict; he clears the air.
- The Bryggare debate: Old Olympic hurdlers aren’t exactly Elmo’s cup of tea, and he tells you why.
- Iida-Lotta Juura’s role: She’s the one who keeps Elmo grounded when the media storm is at its peak.
- Letting the sport do the talking: The summer games will show if Elmo can channel his energy onto the track.
Even though the conversation now is about words and old disputes, I know Elmo Lakka has already moved on mentally. When the starting pistol fires next, no one in the stands will be thinking about this controversy. Then, all eyes will be on the times, the technique, and whether that fire in Finnish hurdling that gets us off our couches has been reignited. And in that game, Elmo has always been our guy—explosive, honest, and damn good.