Lotta Harala retires from elite hurdling after celebrated career

Finnish 100‑metre hurdler Lotta Harala, 34, announced that she will end her elite athletics career in August during the Sweden‑vs‑Finland meet in Helsinki. In a press conference she reflected on a career that began in her teens and spanned international championships, including Olympic, World and European semifinals.

Harala set a new Finnish record of 12.65 seconds in July 2024 and won the national title twice. Persistent injuries – spinal surgery in 2019 and a tibia fracture in 2021 – contributed to her decision to retire. She plans to finish a memoir this autumn and hinted at a possible future as a track‑and‑field coach.

The Finnish Athletics Federation confirmed the retirement and highlighted Harala’s impact on the sport in Finland.