Tuuli Merikoski

Tuuli Sisko Merikoski
Born November 22, 1967 Tampere

Executive Masters in Sports Organization Management (MEMOS) 2007, University of Lyon
Specialist Qualification in Management 2001, Sport Institute of Finland
Master of Arts 1998 (general linguistics), University of Helsinki

Director of development for top-level sport education 2011–, Helmi Business and Travel College, Helsinki
Expert advisor on dual career planning for athletes 2001–11, Finnish Olympic Committee
Executive director 1999–2011, Cultural and Sports Association of Finnish Vocational Education and Training, SAKU
Sports secretary 1998, Cultural and Sports Association of Finnish Vocational Education and Training, SAKU
Top athlete 1987–94, Finnish Athletics Federation

Board of the Finnish Olympic Committee 2012–
Chairman of the board 2014–, Finnish Foundation for the Promotion of Athletes’ Professional Education
Board member 2014–, Urhea Foundation , Metropolitan Sports Academy
Board member 1998– Tampereen Pyrintö basketball team

Numerous expert lectures and workshops in sports and educational organisations, many articles on combining sport and study and athletes’ career planning.

Publications:
“Dual Career in Finland” in the book Sport, Education and Training in Europe. A dual career for a dual life. 2015.

“Urheiluakatemiasta tukea opiskeluun ja huippu- urheiluun. Akatemioiden tarjoamia mahdollisuuksia ei vielä ole täysin oivallettu (‘Support from the sports academy for study and top-level sport. The opportunities offered by sports academies have yet to be fully appreciated’)” (Together with Jari Lämsä and Asko Härkönen) Liikunta & Tiede 2-3/2009

Memorandum of the working group investigating the financial situation of student athletes, Ministry of Education 2004

“Onnellisen naisen paluu” (Return of the happy woman) in the work Juoksun hurma ja tuska. suomalaisen kestävyysjuoksun kuva (‘The ecstasy and the agony of running. A portrait of Finnish long-distance running’) 1994.

Finnish women’s 800m record (2:00.59) 1991, still standing

Photo: Anu Laitila
Written by Tuuli Merikoski and Olli Siitonen (ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington

Professional Board Member in Sports Organisations

In my family, being an “active citizen” was the norm. My parents, Sirkka and Seppo Merikoski, and later my older brother Visa volunteered at several organisations. I chose a similar path: I became a regular board member in various sports organisations. All my honorary positions on local, regional, national and international levels have been rewarding and important. Two positions, however, are in a class of their own when it comes to their significance to me on a personal level.

My longest lasting honorary position is being a member of the board at Tampereen Pyrintö, a multi-sport club and my spiritual home. The following is from a profile on me published in the club’s newsletter (Pyrintöläinen 2/2015): “Our own protégé Tuuli. She has held several honorary positions, among them board membership on the Olympic Committee, and proudly carries the torch of Pyrintö onwards. And look, the club record for 800 metres is the 24 year old national record. Set by Tuuli, of course!”

Another position that holds special meaning for me is membership of the board of the Finnish Foundation for the Promotion of Athletes’ Professional Education, which was founded by President Urho Kekkonen in 1974. Since 2014, I have also been the Chairman of the Foundation. The aim of the Foundation is to support athletes in their studies as well in their efforts to find employment after their athletic careers, something very close to my heart!

By Written by Tuuli Merikoski (Olli Siitonen ed.), translated by Tomi Setälä, revised by Matthew Billington