Ski jumping legend Janne Ahonen accuses Finnish federation over son’s snub

Finnish ski jumping icon Janne Ahonen has levelled strong accusations at his country’s federation after his son, Mico Ahonen, retired at age 23 during the summer.

According to Janne Ahonen, the trigger for Mico’s decision was not being named to any Finnish national squad. “It seems like the son is being punished for the father’s alleged wrongdoings,” the 48‑year‑old suggested, adding that Mico “lost his motivation when he was abruptly left out of both national rosters,” despite having fought his way back from injury.

Ahonen says Mico had recovered in the spring from a serious injury and then posted promising results in several competitions. He argues the federation did not reward that progress, claiming Mico was “jumping better” than some athletes who were selected.

Responding to the criticism, Finland’s head coach Igor Medved urged calm and pointed to financial constraints: “The budget was cut. Therefore, the squads had to be reduced. The doors for athletes who meet the relevant criteria are still open.”

The dispute highlights the pressure on federations facing shrinking budgets and the impact selections can have on young athletes’ careers, especially those returning from injury.