Where they are now: Lassi Karonen

Lining up in the single at last year’s World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic was a distinctive figure in a blue and yellow row suit. Sweden’s Lassi Karonen was back racing. This time it was in a celebrity race stacked full of the best of men’s single scullers in recent years.

Karonen’s rowing career racing internationally in the single coincided with some of the best ever in single sculling and when the opportunity to be part of a tribute race for the recently retired Ondrej Synek, he was very happy to take part.

“Racice was great fun and just a perfect moment to catch up with some of my rowing friends,” says Karonen who reflects back on his rowing career and says the friendships he developed is what he misses the most.

Karonen started rowing as a 17-year-old in the traditional Swedish church boats. Competition is fierce and Karonen loved that atmosphere and the friendships developed as part of the 20-person rowing team.

“I liked the hard work that comes with rowing and the reward of adrenaline that follows when you finally can get some speed,” says Karonen who first made his country’s national team in his late 20’s.

His first international race was in the double sculls, but Karonen soon moved to the single working his way through to the b-final at the World Rowing Championships in 2005. He then started regularly making a-finals against the likes of Mahe Drysdale, Olaf Tufte, Ondrej Synek, Alan Campbell and Marcel Hacker to become one of the single sculling forces. This led up to an a-final finish at the 2008 Olympic Games. He went on to race at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing fourth and just half a second outside of a medal.

The Olympic memories remain strong for Karonen “It is so big a competition and there’s such a long build up for that one moment. But,” says Karonen, “my most proud memory is the victory in the Koninklijke Holland Beker (in Amsterdam in 2006). I did not realise this when it happened because I had my focus forward, but that was one of my best races.”

After the London Olympics Karonen retired from competitive rowing. He says the decision was hard.

“I really liked living as an athlete,” But there were a number of factors now at play for Karonen. “I started to feel quite worn out and I knew that to make progress I would have to increase my training effort. When I started trying, my body did not like it.”

Karonen already had a job as an engineer in building construction. He had started this before his rowing career and it was easy to step back into the role.

“But I have missed the good parts that come with the sport. The excitement of competitions, to work hard for a competitive goal, the moments and the places around it.”

The now 46-year-old has learnt the importance of capturing those moments when they happen.

“You never know if you will have the same opportunity again.”

Karonen stays involved in sport through his children and encourages them to do the sports that they choose. He is a youth trainer in biathlon and a mentor for young Swedish rowers.

“I try to row sometimes. I still really enjoy rowing. It’s not regular but when the moment comes I enjoy it. I still have my boats and I also have a coastal boat to row when the conditions are rough.

“I hope to get back more in to rowing later on but as it is now it has to be put on hold.”