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

My Dream

I dream that I can live a full life with all the joys and sorrows it has to offer with my husband Erkki and other people close to me.

I dream that I can exercise every day, that doing so will let me blow off steam and energise me.

I dream that I can keep finding interesting work with enthusiastic people, and that the work will involve learning, improving oneself, sports and leadership.

I dream that I can have a positive influence on the way professional athletes and their work is appreciated. I want to help athletes when their careers are coming to a close. This transitional period comes with many changes and you have to let go of many things, but there will also be new possibilities. I want to be there to create a functional support system.

I dream that I will be able to enjoy the little things: having a cup of coffee at the market in the morning, walking hand in hand, the breakthrough of a young athlete, reading at night, the fragile and gentle singing voice of Johanna Kurkela, making merry with my friends, the levity of life and the calmness of the mind.

I dream that I can help and bring joy to people, that I can listen carefully to what people want to tell me and then react accordingly.

I dream, yes, I dream… should I say this in a silent dreamy whisper: I dream that one day I can be a grandmother, granny, gran, whatever I will be called.

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