Lappeenranta celebrates Alisa Vainio’s European marathon gold

Yle will broadcast a live celebration for European marathon champion Alisa Vainio from Lappeenranta’s harbour square at 15:20 on Saturday.

Vainio, 28, won the women’s marathon at the European Championships in Birmingham by a wide margin. Her winning time of 2:22:26 was also a new championship record.

The Lappeenranta runner finished nearly five minutes ahead of runner-up Lili Anna Vindics-Tóth.

The live broadcast can be watched on Yle Areena and in Yle’s updating article. The celebration is organised by the city of Lappeenranta, which will also announce how it will reward Vainio.

Vainio finished fifth in the marathon at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo. Lappeenranta rewarded her with 5,000 euros and a Lappeenranta coin.

Vainio won the European title last Sunday and returned to Finland as champion on Monday.

The band Kotiteollisuus will perform at the celebration. Its singer, Jouni Hynynen, has worn braids similar to those Vainio had during the European marathon for more than a week.

Hynynen said the resemblance was purely coincidental. Floorball world champion Jenni Morottaja made the braids for him last Friday, when the band performed at Tavastia.

Before the celebration, Lappeenranta hosted the Lappeenranta Half running event. Vainio watched the races but did not take part. The event was held for the third time, and Vainio has competed in it in previous years.