Samuli Samuelsson retires from professional athletics

Finnish sprinter Samuli Samuelsson has announced his retirement from competitive athletics. The 31-year-old, who holds the Finnish national record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.12 seconds, cited both health issues and financial constraints as primary reasons for his decision.

Samuelsson revealed that he was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and acid reflux, which resulted in an esophageal ulcer. These conditions caused significant discomfort during training, making it difficult to maintain his athletic performance. Additionally, the loss of sponsorship funding made it impossible to sustain a professional career. Samuelsson stated that he did not want to pursue athletics halfway while also working, preferring to transition fully into the workforce.

Throughout his career, Samuelsson represented Finland in the European Championships in 2022 and 2024 and won 15 Finnish championship medals, including six gold medals. Having studied to become an optician, he has already begun working in his field. He expressed an interest in pursuing coaching qualifications in the future.