Murray State University Athletics
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Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Kiuru Makes Most Of Surreal Summer
9/17/2020 5:09:00 PM | Rifle
At the beginning, 2020 had all the earmarks of being a banner year for Matias Kiuru. Following service in the Finnish military and some time off, he was set to join the Murray State rifle team in January. Following the end of the season, he was to return to Finland for Olympic qualification where he had a solid chance of making the team for the 2020 summer games in Japan.
The year started well, as he became the first ever Finnish NCAA shooter when he reported to Murray in January, where he would go on to lead the Racers in scoring in nearly every match in the last half of the season. After a disappointing result at the OVC championships in February, however, Kiuru and his MSU teammates set their sights of the NCAA Championship in March.
After getting to Lexington the night before, the Racers began the championships with a practice day on Thursday. The day started as most rifle matches does, early. However, as the day went on there was more and more buzz around the NCAA officials and finally on the way back to the hotel the entire championships, along with the whole of NCAA sports in general, were canceled.
From there it went from bad to worse for Kiuru with the postponing of the Olympics, the cancellations of flights and the closing of borders. After only two months in the U.S., Kiuru was stranded in strange land with no in-person classes, no teammates and little semblance of the life he knew just 90 days earlier.
"After talking with Coach Lollar," said Kiuru, "we decided that it would be best if I just stayed here this summer and trained, so that whenever the next season starts, I am ready and actually able to be there on the line with my teammates."
So with that, Kiuru began his spring and summer of solitude.
"Campus was so quiet compared to what it is now, but there was a certain rhythm in my days. Go to training, go to the gym, cook some food and do some chores. I never really got bored though, because there were always things to be done."
When he did find himself with some downtime, Kiuru took full advantage of the area surrounding him and went fishing.
"Back home, I did mostly trout fishing, but here is mostly bass fishing, despite the difference I still really enjoy it."
Despite being a physical escape from the mundane day-to-day life during quarantine, fishing also provided a mental escape for Kiuru.
"If I am fishing, at the very least, I am trying not to think of anything shooting related. I just try to forget about everything and focus on being outdoors and possible being there with friend. It's just a chance to get away from everything for, for a moment, at least."
After making the best of a most unusual summer, Kiuru is now focused on schoolh and helping the Racers return to the NCAA Championship for an experience that was taken away from them last season in the blink of an eye.
One thing that will be different for Kiuru this season is his role on the team. The Finn is set to ascend to leadership this year not just because of his experience, but despite having been on the team for just one semester and being a sophomore, he is the oldest member of the Racers squad due to his military service and time off from school.
However, according to Kiuru, the new role won't change anything for him.
"I just try to train as hard as I can and lead by example. That's the most important thing is for me to be an example for my younger teammates and so that have someone to compare themselves to."
In addition to setting a good example, he also wants to stress to his teammates to live in the now and focus on the future, as it can all disappear without warning, as he so vividly remembers.
"This whole year, so far, has been so crazy with all this stuff going on. I didn't really stress about insignificant things before, but after this spring and summer, I do it even less because you never know what's going to happen."
The year started well, as he became the first ever Finnish NCAA shooter when he reported to Murray in January, where he would go on to lead the Racers in scoring in nearly every match in the last half of the season. After a disappointing result at the OVC championships in February, however, Kiuru and his MSU teammates set their sights of the NCAA Championship in March.
After getting to Lexington the night before, the Racers began the championships with a practice day on Thursday. The day started as most rifle matches does, early. However, as the day went on there was more and more buzz around the NCAA officials and finally on the way back to the hotel the entire championships, along with the whole of NCAA sports in general, were canceled.
From there it went from bad to worse for Kiuru with the postponing of the Olympics, the cancellations of flights and the closing of borders. After only two months in the U.S., Kiuru was stranded in strange land with no in-person classes, no teammates and little semblance of the life he knew just 90 days earlier.
"After talking with Coach Lollar," said Kiuru, "we decided that it would be best if I just stayed here this summer and trained, so that whenever the next season starts, I am ready and actually able to be there on the line with my teammates."
So with that, Kiuru began his spring and summer of solitude.
"Campus was so quiet compared to what it is now, but there was a certain rhythm in my days. Go to training, go to the gym, cook some food and do some chores. I never really got bored though, because there were always things to be done."
When he did find himself with some downtime, Kiuru took full advantage of the area surrounding him and went fishing.
"Back home, I did mostly trout fishing, but here is mostly bass fishing, despite the difference I still really enjoy it."
Despite being a physical escape from the mundane day-to-day life during quarantine, fishing also provided a mental escape for Kiuru.
"If I am fishing, at the very least, I am trying not to think of anything shooting related. I just try to forget about everything and focus on being outdoors and possible being there with friend. It's just a chance to get away from everything for, for a moment, at least."
After making the best of a most unusual summer, Kiuru is now focused on schoolh and helping the Racers return to the NCAA Championship for an experience that was taken away from them last season in the blink of an eye.
One thing that will be different for Kiuru this season is his role on the team. The Finn is set to ascend to leadership this year not just because of his experience, but despite having been on the team for just one semester and being a sophomore, he is the oldest member of the Racers squad due to his military service and time off from school.
However, according to Kiuru, the new role won't change anything for him.
"I just try to train as hard as I can and lead by example. That's the most important thing is for me to be an example for my younger teammates and so that have someone to compare themselves to."
In addition to setting a good example, he also wants to stress to his teammates to live in the now and focus on the future, as it can all disappear without warning, as he so vividly remembers.
"This whole year, so far, has been so crazy with all this stuff going on. I didn't really stress about insignificant things before, but after this spring and summer, I do it even less because you never know what's going to happen."
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