Hurske Faces Tough Year After Turning 30

Reetta Hurske opens the indoor season in Tampere with a world-leading 60m hurdles time but battles injuries and a tough year, YLE reports. The star hurdler arrived at Tampere’s Pirkkahalli for a maintenance session after a late-night flight from France, saying she has slept only three hours. An unresolved sit-bone issue and a string of health problems in the past year have weighed on her season, leaving her in what she calls a personal “30-year crisis.”

Her setbacks began in December 2024 with a torn ankle that recurred in February despite rehabilitation, and a hamstring flare in May while returning from a Tenerife training camp. Still, she managed a top summer time of 12.92 seconds at the Paavo Nurmi Games in June, though it was not enough to secure her best form for the year. Hurske insists that the mental pressure has been the hardest part, adding that she is trying to move forward and focus on progress rather than setbacks. The athlete says she is aiming to rebound for upcoming European and world-level events, including the March indoor World Championships in Poland, where Finland can name two 60m hurdlers for the team. She also reflects on the support she receives from her partner Topias Palm and their dog Mimmi, noting the importance of having someone who understands the pressures of elite sport.

On the track, Hurske’s January indoor season opened strong with a world-leading time, and she later finished fourth in the Kalevan kisojen 60m hurdles final after a challenging season. She says her next targets are the Espoo SM-halle and the March championships in Poland, where she hopes to post times strong enough to secure a place at the world championships. Hurske’s career peak runs include European indoor titles and European and world championship appearances, making this difficult year a setback in contrast to her earlier success; still, she remains optimistic about returning to top form in time for Birmingham 2023 and beyond.