Jaakko Tallus   Nickname: "Jasso"   Born: 23.2.1981, Lieksa   Present home: Kuopio   Height: 165   Weight: 54     Family: Parents: Martti and Päivi Brother: Juha Sister: Jenni   Education: Matriculation examination graduate from Sotkamo's high school of sports   Hobbies: Tennis, floorball, downhill skiing Club: Skiing Club of Lieksa   Story behind Jaakko Tallus.. I started skiing so young - about the time I was four - that I can barely even remember anything about that time. My father was very keen on skiing, so it was obvious he led the children on to the track as well. I first came across ski jump when I was about seven years old. My father discovered an ad in the paper, which prompted for the young, interested in ski jump to come to the Riihivaara in Lieksa and try out jumping. At start, the sport was a bit difficult for a little boy, since there was no adequate supply of equipment. The fact that the equipment were also very old, didn't make the sport any easier. There was also a lack of coaches and trainers. Fathers did what they could and developed as trainers as we developed as jumpers. I remember the first competition being held at Kitee and that it was the Region Championship. Our series consisted of only two contestants, me and Samppa. Samppa won and I was the runner-up. By that time I was eight years old. The first Hopeasompa-competition I took part in took place at Seinäjoki in the year 1991. I placed around 20th in Nordic Combined. I missed Skijump, because it was a time when region quotas were still in place and our region had better jumpers to offer. I had the first taste of success at Kouvola in 1993. I came home with two silver medals, from ski jump and Nordic Combined. This ofcourse gave me a whole new touch of enthusiasm, since the Hopeasompa was considered the main sports event of the season. Since then I've been collecting the Hopeasompa medals every year. The next mayor step-up took place at the last Hopeasompa -year, in 1997. That's when they accepted me to the Junior World Championship and I also got the priviledge to represent Finland in the B-World Cup. At the end of -97 I moved to Vuokatti and was admitted to the Sotkamo's high school of sports. This was a big step in a young man's life. After the first year in high school I was accepted to the National team, although I won nothing with them at that time. I was accepted to the World cup next fall. The 1999 season started in a World Cup spirit, but it didn't last more than half a month. Falling down at jumping practise and the subsequent breaking of an ankle made the season short. The following season started also in a World Cup spirit, but the fact of being continously sick in january and february ruined the main goal of the season, the Junior World championship. Rest of the season went awfully well, and I also got some medals from the World Cup. The start of the next season was like swimming in glue, you jump and jump but you're still at the same place. I was gathering World Cup positions from 7th to 15th all season. The last of the Junior World Championship went reasonably well. Three silver medals in the pocket. The World Championship at Lahti in the year 2001 was the first non-junior championship competition I took part in. Considering the expectations, it went extremely well. The jumping shape that had been at loss at the start of the season was found at the right time. As a result I placed 4th and 9th in the singles and was also handed the team World Championship bronze. The following spring also brought the white cap - which is considered a proof of completing the matriculation exam in Finland - to my head. Only a week from that moment I found myself from the army. The season 2001-2002 started much better than any of the previous ones. Rankings in the World Cup were very promising. The last World Cup before the Olympics were held in middle-January at Ramsau, where I placed third. It had been a year and a half from the last time I was awarded with a medal. Nevertheless, I raced the clock for my personal best at that time. Before the olympics, in late January, we traveled to the familiar Steamboat Springs in U.S. for a preparing camp. The preparing was a great success. The weather was great and the whole team jumped very well. We traveled to the actual Olympic arena only a few days before the mayor event. At practise the team simply picked up where they left in Steamboat. The actual competition went all according to my personal plan. I managed to keep up the skill level I had accomplished at the preparing camp. Although the first medal was a surprise, I still had breath left for the other races, which went also very well. The first victory had cleared any pressures on succeeding. I had no trouble keeping up the pace in the events rest of the season, though I had more than a much to do, thanks to the success in the Olympics. I got home from the army in early June and I almost immediately moved to Kuopio. Choosing which town to settle in wasn't really that hard, considering the fact that my jumping coach Jarkko Saapunki lived in Kuopio.