Tomi Rantamäki Kiinan olympiajoukkueen valmentajaksi

Tomi Rantamäki: ”Kun maailman parhaana pidetty curlingvalmentaja Peja Lindholm otti yhteyttä ja pyysi mukaan, ei päätöstä tarvinnut kauaa miettiä. Kiinassa taloudelliset resurssit ovat valmennuksen tarpeisiin nähden riittävät ja pelaajat osaavat arvostaa hyvää valmennusta. Kiinassa pääsen toteuttamaan valmennuksellisia visioitani ja kehittymään uusilla osa-alueilla. Menestyspaineet ovat Kiinassa kotikisoissa 2022 kovat, joten pelaajien lisäksi myös valmentajien pitää jatkuvasti oppia ja kehittyä. Työskentely Kiinassa huippuvalmentajien kanssa on curlingvalmennuksen korkein koulu.”

Peja Lindholm, National coach China: “When I was asked to be the national coach for China I was looking for three head coaches. For me it was important to select coaches with the same philosophy as me. That is to always have the athletes in focus and do everything possible to develop the players, teams and take care of every detail, big and small. It is also important that the coaches are curious and willing to try new things. Without that you can at best be in second place, since you follow the leader. It is the winners that have the guts to try new things. Some might not work but some will. With all this in mind it was absolutely clear to me that Tomi should be in the team. I have known Tomi for so many years and we for sure have the same mindset. I know that Tomi and I will work great together, and I am thrilled Tomi accepted the offer.”

Olli Rissanen, PJ, Suomen Curlingliitto: "Suomen Curlingliitto onnittelee Tomi Rantamäkeä ja on ylpeä hänen saamastaan nimityksestä! Tämä on suuri tunnustus suomalaiselle curling-osaamiselle, sekä osoittaa sen, että Rantamäki on tehnyt uraa uurtavaa työtä kehittäessään itseään niin pelaajana kuin valmentajanakin. Tomilla on toimiessaan Suomen Curlingliiton valmennuspäällikkönä vuoden 2014 syksystä lukien ollut selkeä visio, ja hän on vienyt suomalaisen curlingin valmennustoimintaa ammattimaisempaan ja urheilullisempaan suuntaan. Suomen Curlingliitto kiittää Tomi Rantamäkeä suomalaisen curlingin hyväksi tekemästään työstä, ja toivottaa hänelle onnea ja menestystä uusissa tehtävissään!"

In English:

Tomi Rantamäki appointed as a new coach for the Chinese Curling Olympic team

Tomi Rantamäki, the current National Coach of the Finnish Curling Association (FCA), has been invited to coach the Chinese curling Olympic team, starting on the 15th of July, 2019. Tomi has served as the FCA National Coach since 2014, while still working also in his consulting company and playing competitive curling. Rantamäki played in the Finnish Mixed Doubles team at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, where Finland finished 7th. He also just won his fourth Men's Finnish Championship title during the 2018-2019 season and would have represented Finland in the upcoming European Championships in the autumn of 2019.

In the Chinese Olympic team, Tomi is responsible for coaching the Mixed Doubles Olympic team and developing the talent pool for all the Olympic teams. The coaching team is led by Swedish coach Peja Lindholm. The group also includes Sören Grahn (men) from Sweden and Marco Mariani (women) from Italy.

Tomi Rantamäki: “When Peja Lindholm, a world-renowned curling coach, contacted me and asked me to join the coaching team, it did not take long to make that decision. In China, the financial resources for coaching are adequate and the players really appreciate good coaching. In China, I can implement my visions regarding coaching, and it is also a great opportunity to develop my own skills in many areas of coaching. Because the 2022 Olympics are in Beijing, there is tremendous pressure for success for China, so not only the players, but also the coaches must be willing to learn and develop constantly. I believe working in China with top coaches will be the greatest school for curling coaching.”

Peja Lindholm, National coach of China: “When I was asked to be the national coach for China, I was looking for three head coaches. For me it was important to select coaches with the same philosophy as me. That is to always have the athletes in focus and do everything possible to develop the players, teams and take care of every detail, big and small. It is also important that the coaches are curious and willing to try new things. Without that you can at best be in second place, since you follow the leader. It is the winners that have the guts to try new things. Some might not work, but some will. With all this in mind it was absolutely clear to me that Tomi should be in the team. I have known Tomi for so many years and we for sure have the same mindset. I know that Tomi and I will work great together, and I am thrilled Tomi accepted the offer.”

Olli Rissanen, President of the Finnish Curling Association: "The Finnish Curling Association congratulates Tomi Rantamäki and is proud of his nomination! This is a great recognition for Finnish curling expertise and shows that Rantamäki has done wonderful work in developing himself as a player and a coach. Since starting as the FCA National Coach in 2014, Tomi has maintained a clear vision, and he has helped develop Finnish curling coaching into a direction, in which professionalism and athleticism are emphasized. The Finnish Curling Association wishes to say thanks to Tomi Rantamäki for the work he has done for the Finnish curling and also wishes him good luck and success in his new appointment!”