Maisa Kuusikko Explained

Maisa Kuusikko
Fullname:Maisa Kuusikko
Birth Date:2005 6, df=y
Birth Place:Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland
Discipline:WAG
Level:Senior International Elite
Natlteam:2018–present (FIN)
Club:Tampereen Voimistelijoiden
Headcoach:Igor Cherepov
Show-Medals:yes

Maisa Kuusikko (born 16 June 2005) is a Finnish artistic gymnast. She represented Finland at the inaugural junior World Championships. She is the 2021 Finnish national champion and a two-time junior national champion. At the 2022 World Championships Kuusikko made history by becoming the first Finnish gymnast to qualify to the all-around final.

Early life

Kuusikko was born in Tampere, Finland. She began training in gymnastics in 2011.[1]

Junior gymnastics career

2018

Kuusikko competed at the Finnish National Championships where she placed third in the all-around and second on uneven bars.[2] She made her international debut at the 2018 Nordic Championships where she helped Finland place third. Individually she placed eighth in the all-around and second on uneven bars behind Tonya Paulsson.[3]

2019

Kuusikko competed at the Stella Zakharova Cup where she won a pair of bronze on vault and uneven bars.[4] At the Nordic Championships she helped Finland place first. Individually she placed second in the all-around behind Camille Rasmussen but won gold on vault and balance beam. She won the junior national title at the Finnish Championships and was named to the team to compete at the inaugural Junior World Championships alongside Ilona Kossila and Malla Montell. Kuusikko finished 39th in the all-around and was the highest placing Finnish gymnast.[5] In December she competed at the Voronin Cup where she placed fifth in the all-around, third on vault, second on uneven bars and balance beam, and sixth on floor exercise.[6]

2020

The mass majority of competitions in 2020 were either canceled or postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In November Kuusikko competed at the Finnish Championships where she defended her junior national title. Additionally she won gold on vault, uneven bars, and balance beam and placed second on floor exercise behind Olivia Vättö.[7]

Senior gymnastics career

2021

Kuusikko turned senior in 2021. She made her senior international debut at the 2021 European Championships where she qualified to the all-around final. During the final she placed thirteenth.[8] In September she competed at the Finnish Championships and won her first senior national title. Additionally she won the uneven bars and balance beam titles and placed second on vault behind Kaia Tanskanen.[9] Kuusikko was selected to represent Finland at the World Championships alongside Ada Hautala and Rosanna Ojala.[10]

2022

Kuusikko competed at the Baku World Cup where she placed fifth on vault and floor exercise. She next competed at the Varna Challenge Cup where she won silver on balance beam behind Ana Đerek, bronze on vault behind Aline Friess and Camille Rasmussen, and eighth on uneven bars.

Kuusikko later represented Finland at the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool, England, contributing to the Finnish team's 16th place finish during qualifications. She advanced to the individual all-around final in 29th place, becoming the first Finnish gymnast to do so in World Championships history.[11] During the all-around final Kuusikko finished thirteenth.[12]

2023

In September Kuusikko sustained a knee injury and was unable to compete at the 2023 World Championships.[13]

Competitive history

YearEventTeamAAVTUBBBFX
Junior
2018 align=left Finnish Championships 7 7
align=left 8
2019 align=left Stella Zakharova Cup 4 5 4
align=left
align=left Finnish Championships 7 6
align=left 26 39
align=left 5 6
2020 align=left Finnish Championships
Senior
2021
align=left 13
align=left Finnish World Trials
align=left Finnish Championships 8
2022 align=left 5 5
align=left 8
align=left 11
align=left 6 6
align=left 16 13
2023
align=left 11 15
2024 align=left

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maisa Kuusikko FIG profile. International Gymnastics Federation.
  2. Web site: 2018 Finnish Championships. The Gymternet. June 3, 2018.
  3. Web site: 2018 Nordic Championships Results. The Gymternet. July 6, 2018.
  4. Web site: Stella Zakharova Cup (2019) - Score for Score.
  5. Web site: Tampereen Voimistelijoiden Maisa Kuusikolla upeita suorituksia MM-telineillä. fi. Aamulehti. 4 July 2019.
  6. Web site: 2019 Voronin Cup Results. The Gymternet. December 2, 2019.
  7. Web site: Tampereen Voimistelijoiden 15-vuotias Maisa Kuusikko ahkeroi komean viikonlopun – SM-kisojen päätteeksi kaulassa kiilsi kolme kultaa ja kaksi hopeaa. fi. Aamulehti. November 13, 2020.
  8. Web site: 15-vuotias Maisa Kuusikko voimisteli 13:nneksi EM-neliottelussa – "Ihan mahtava fiilis". fi. Yle. April 21, 2021.
  9. Web site: 15-vuotias Maisa Kuusikko voimisteli kolme kultaa Oulun SM-kisoissa – "Löytyi paljon onnistumisia". fi. September 19, 2021. Länsi-Uusimaa.
  10. Web site: Telinevoimistelun MM-kilpailujen edustajat nimetty. September 20, 2021. fi. Finnish Gymnastics Association.
  11. Web site: Maisa Kuusikko, 17, teki historiaa voimistelemalla neliottelun MM-finaaliin. Maisa Kuusikko, 17, made history by reaching the World Championships all-around final. October 31, 2022. Helsingin Sanomat. fi.
  12. Web site: Maisa Kuusikko hipoi ennätystään ja ja venyi historialliseen tulokseen MM-kisoissa. Helsingin Sanomat. fi. November 3, 2022. Maisa Kuusikko beat her record and stretched to a historic result at the World Championships.
  13. Web site: Maisa Kuusikko polvileikkaukseen, MM-kisat jäävät väliin. Maisa Kuusikko to have knee surgery, the World Championships will be missed. September 12, 2023. Finnish Gymnastics Federation. fi.