Helsinki, Finland, Mai 8, 2025
Experienced Brazilian Hired to Help Finland Reach the Olympics – Praises Helsinki's Conditions: 'Perfect'
Lissandro, who previously led France back to Olympic beach volleyball, is now the head coach of Finland's national beach volleyball team. His influence is already evident in the team's ambitious World Championship goals.
Summary:
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Beach volleyball players Niina Ahtiainen and Taru Lahti-Liukkonen narrowly missed qualifying for the Paris Olympics last year but remained motivated to continue.Yle.fi
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Brazilian coach Lissandro, who successfully guided France to Olympic qualification, has been appointed as the new head coach to help Finland achieve its first-ever Olympic berth in beach volleyball.
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Ahtiainen and Lahti-Liukkonen are aiming for a medal at the World Championships in Australia this November.Yle.fi
Finland's top beach volleyball players, Niina Ahtiainen and Taru Lahti-Liukkonen, faced disappointment nearly a year ago when they narrowly missed securing a spot in the Paris Olympics, held beneath the Eiffel Tower.Yle.fi
"The disappointment was intense. We hit rock bottom but quickly bounced back. It taught us that we have all the potential. We're highly motivated to continue and believe we'll achieve that Olympic spot," Ahtiainen recalls.
Tapio Kangasniemi, Sports Director of the Finnish Volleyball Association, also noted in a meeting after the Olympic qualification setback that Lahti-Liukkonen's determination indicated their journey wasn't over.Yle.fi
In February, Lahti-Liukkonen and Ahtiainen began training under their new head coach, Brazilian Lissandro. Previously, their coaching came from their spouses, Toni Vahela and Kai Liukkonen. Now, they're guided by an accomplished coach from a beach volleyball powerhouse.Yle.fi
"I've been able to take feedback from my spouse, but there's a slight difference now. Emotions don't come into play as much, which I see as a positive," Ahtiainen describes.
Though Ahtiainen's spouse remains close, continuing as the sport's director, Toni Vahela was actively involved in the national team's training sessions when Lissandro's appointment was announced.
Lissandro's resume is impressive. He's coached at the world's top level for over 15 years. He arrived from Brazil to serve as the technical director for the Italian Volleyball Federation's beach volleyball division in 2009.
In 2014, he briefly worked in a similar role in Kazakhstan before returning to Italy until 2017. Subsequently, he was recruited to France to restore their beach volleyball presence in the 2024 home Olympics.
France hadn't secured an Olympic spot in beach volleyball for over 20 years, but the six-year project succeeded. Under Lissandro's leadership, France earned Olympic berths based on performance, not just as the host nation.
Now, the prominent figure in beach volleyball aims to help Finland qualify for the Olympics in the sport for the first time. This challenge motivates Lissandro, as do the strategies presented by Finland's leadership to achieve Olympic qualification.
The starting point for the project towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is reportedly much better than in France. The players are at a good level and experienced.
Having coached at the top for over 15 years, Lissandro finds nothing to complain about in Finland's conditions.
"The conditions are incredible. I haven't seen anything like this elsewhere. It's perfect here in Salmisaari and also in Pasila," Lissandro praises Helsinki's indoor facilities.Yle.fi
How Lissandro Was Recruited to Finland
How did a coach like Lissandro get enticed to Finland? Tapio Kangasniemi explains that the beach volleyball community is small, and coaches and players worldwide are well-acquainted.Yle.fi
"It was surprisingly easy to get him here. Our facilities are reasonably good, even with winter snow. Plus, we can use Tenerife as a training location during winter. Our top pair is strong, and there are promising players coming up," Kangasniemi shares Finland's advantages.
The Finnish Volleyball Association's financial struggles have been widely reported in recent years, including in beach volleyball.
However, the financial situation has improved enough to invest in the Brazilian coach and Toni Vahela's role as sport director. Kangasniemi doesn't disclose specific figures but mentions a significant investment.Yle.fi
"The time was ripe to make such an investment," Kangasniemi states.
This marks a clear shift in beach volleyball, moving from domestic to foreign coaching. Kangasniemi emphasizes that Finnish coaching has been successful, and hiring a Brazilian isn't a critique but rather a desire for fresh perspectives.
He also reflects on a general mindset in Finnish sports.
"Unfortunately, in this northern corner, we sometimes think we're quite good. But when we go to the Olympics or other major competitions, we see that others have trained too, and there are skilled professionals worldwide," Kangasniemi asserts.Yle.fi
Attitude Shift Evident in Ambitious World Championship Goals
According to Lissandro, Finland's top pair already possesses good skills, but he's focused on teaching them how to utilize these skills more effectively.
Lahti-Liukkonen sees the most significant lesson as a change in attitude. The duo no longer participates just to compete but to succeed. They now confidently express their goals and trust more in their abilities.Yle.fi
"Lissandro has brought exactly what we've needed. He's provided insight into the mindset required for tournaments. It feels like he's delivering precisely what we need right now," Lahti-Liukkonen enthuses.
A prime example of this attitude shift is evident as the Finnish duo, ranked among the world's top 20, discusses their goals for this year's major event—the World Championships in Australia this November.
"Of course, it's a long journey. We need to perform well in challenge and elite tournaments to qualify for the World Championships. But we will get there and aim for a medal," Ahtiainen declares.Yle.fi
