Lahti has selected three promising young athletes to serve as its 2026 youth athlete ambassadors: nordic combined and ski jumping athlete Heta Hirvonen, ski jumper Kasperi Valto, and middle‑distance runner Ilona Mononen.
– We have already collaborated successfully with Heta, and now we are pleased to welcome Kasperi and Ilona—two more outstanding talents—to our ambassador team. It’s a privilege to support the growth stories of young athletes from Lahti and to accompany them on their journey toward elite‑level success, says Aleksi Nyström, Director of Sports.
Lahti’s youth athlete ambassador is a nationally successful and potentially internationally rising individual-sport athlete who advocates for the positive values of sport and serves as a role model for healthy and active lifestyles.
The partnership aims not only to strengthen the training and competition environments of young athletes, but also to showcase Lahti as a vibrant city of sports and major events. The collaboration includes joint appearances, marketing communications, and Lahti visibility in the athletes’ competition and national team apparel.