Everyone copes with stress differently-some people hit the gym to blow off steam, others express themselves creatively. If you’re Finnish snowboarding coach Antti Koskinen, you knit mid-Olympics.
the finnish coach is knitting ahhakgjahk noora i love finland pic.twitter.com/K7wLg5i3ap
— fate will discover a way (@jinusbitches) February 10, 2018
Koskinen has become Internet famous after photos surfaced on social networking?of the coach knitting towards the top of the slopes during pivotal snowboarding events at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
“@CBCOlympics: Finnish Slopestyle coach, Antti Koskinen sideline knitting is everything! #CBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/3DMeRT08rI” #hero #knit
— Allison Harding (@alli_eh) February 11, 2014
The Finnish snowboarding coach keeps his athletes nerves controlled by looking into making them KNIT. THEY WERE KNITTIN Towards the top of THE COURSE. I really like this shit (also it does indeed assist with anxiety) #OlympicWinterGames #WinterOlympics2018
— Rachel James (@rachelannjames) February 11, 2018
Koskinen’s moment of hygge atop the mountain isn’t a new hobby-he was spotted knitting throughout the Sochi Olympics back in 2014, too. In those days, Yahoo Sports noted that Koskinen claimed to have “brought out the knitting kit to keep things light for that athletes prior to the competition began.”Apparently, Finnish snowboarder Roope Tonteri got a kick out of Koskinen’s knitting, so he was sure to bring his needles when it came time for Tonteri to compete within the men’s slopestyle competition this year.
The official Twitter page of the Finnish Olympic team has joked about Koskinen’s favorite pasttime, quipping, “Oh yes, he’s knitting again.”When asked exactly what the coach?was making, they revealed the sweetest answer imaginable: Koskinen is hard at work whipping up a blanket for the Finnish president’s baby. Major “aww” alert.
Oh yes, he’s knitting again. ?? #olympicteamfi #knittingteamfi https://t.co/k7cIpacHOW
— Olympic Team Finland (@OlympicTeamFI) February 10, 2018
Just read in the Finnish paper the coach (and also the whole Olympic team, more or less) are knitting a patchwork for that newborn baby within the Finnish presidential family
— Marko Pajunen (@mikrokupu) February 12, 2018
Indeed! Team effort at its best! #knittingteamfi
— Olympic Team Finland (@OlympicTeamFI) February 12, 2018
Koskinen could be onto something here: Repetitive pursuits like knitting might have health benefits, since they help you get out of your head as well as reducing stress. The Olympics are a powerful and?stressful time for athletes and their coaches, and Koskinen’s hobby is a good reminder for everybody?to make here we are at self-care. Especially since in this case, the outcome is a cozy blanket for just one lucky baby!
