Finnish athlete Milja Thureson

Milja Thureson is a Finnish sprinter, who is a five-time national champion (indoor and outdoor). She holds the 150m U14 and U15 Finnish record of 18.50 sec, which she ran in Turku in 2008.

Milja Thureson was born on May 23, 1994, in Kaarina, Finland. She started in athletics at an early age and developed her skills at the local sports club.

Milja Thureson started her competitive career already in 2008, finishing 5th at the Jyvaskyla Finnish U18 Indoor Championships in 60m. During the next season she won the gold at the Turku Regional Junior Indoor Championships and the silver at the Turku Finnish U18 Indoor Championships in 60m, but also debuted at the national championship, competing at the Espoo Finnish Championships.

In 2010, Milja Thureson won the gold at the Kuopio Finnish U18 Indoor Championships in 60m but also earned the silver in the long jump. She also finished 5th at the Turku Finnish Indoor Championships in 60m and competed at the Kajaani Finnish Championships in 100m. She won the 100m bronze at the Turku Paavo Nurmi Games and competed at the Moskva European Youth Olympic Trials.

Milja Thureson won her first national title in 2011, winning the gold at the Helsinki Finnish Indoor Championships in 60m. In the junior competitions, she earned gold at the Helsinki Finnish U18 Indoor Championships in 60m and the bronze in long jump.

In 2012, Milja Thureson won the 100m silver at the Turku Paavo Nurmi Games and Riihimaki Hame Games. She also competed at the Lahti Finnish Championships but did not reach the final. During the season, she earned the silver at the Stockholm DN Galan Youth in 200m.

Milja Thureson made a fantastic performance in the 2013 Espoo Nordic Junior Championships, winning the gold in 100m, 4x100m relay, and 200m. She also finished 5th at the European Junior Championships in Rieti European Junior Championships in 100m. At the national championships, Milja Thureson finished 6th at the Vaasa Finnish Championships in 60m and 4th at the Jyvaskyla Finnish Indoor Championships in 100m. At the Lappeenranta Finnish Junior Championships, she earned 100m and 200m gold and at the Tampere Finnish Junior Indoor Championships, she won 60m gold.

In 2014, Milja Thureson won the 60m and 200m gold at the Helsinki Finnish U23 Indoor Championships, 100m silver at the Seinajoki Finnish U23 Championships, and the gold in the 200m. During the season, she earned silver at the Kuopio Finnish Championships in 100m and 200m. She also competed at the Zurich European Championships in 4x100m but did not reach the final.

Milja Thureson continue being one of the top sprinters in Finland in 2015, winning the bronze at the Tampere Finnish Indoor Championships in 60m and 100m and 200m silver at the Pori Finnish Championships. She competed at the Tallinn European U23 Championships in 4x100m and Cheboksary European Team Championships in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. Milja Thureson dominated the junior championships, winning the 60m and 100m gold at the Turku Finnish U23 Indoor Championships and the 100m and 200m gold at the Lahti Finnish U23 Championships.

In 2016, Milja Thureson earned the 200m bronze at the Tampere Finnish Indoor Championships, as well as Helsinki Finnish U23 Indoor Championships 60m gold and 00m silver. She also finished 5th in 100m at the Riga Cup 5th. However, at the national championships, she missed to win a medal.

In 2017, Milja Thureson earned the 100m bronze at the Jyvaskyla Finnish Indoor Championships. During the season she earned the 100m bronze at the Kuortane Elittikisat, 100m silver Espoo Tapiot Games, and finished 7th in 200m at the Goteborg Folksam GP.

Milja Thureson won another 200m gold and 100m sand 400m silver at the 2018 Jyvaskyla Finnish Championships, as well as 200m bronze and 4x400m silver at the Tampere Finnkampen. She was also close to earning a medal from the Helsinki Finnish Indoor Championships in 200m, finishing 4th.

In 2019, Milja Thureson won another two national titles at the Finnish Indoor Championships in 60m and 400m, as well as the silver in 200m. She also earned 200m bronze at the Nordenkampen and 200m gold at the Aktia Games. She competed at the Folksam Grand Prix in Sollentuna in 400m, finishing 6th.

Milja Thureson won the 200m and 400m bronze at the 2020 Turku Finnish Championships, as well as the 200m bronze at the Tampere Finnish Indoor Championships. During the season she also won the bronze at the Finnkampen in 4x400m relay and 400m individual.

In 2021, Milja Thureson won the 200m and 400m silver at the Jyvaskyla Finnish Indoor Championships. She also won the 4x400m relay gold in Finnkampen in Stockholm, 200m silver at the Motonet GP in Espoo, 200m gold at the Kalevan Kisat, as well as the 200m bronze at the Kuortane Games.

At the 2022 Oulu Finnish Championships, Milja Thureson earned 100m bronze, 200m silver, and 400m silver, while at the Kuopio Finnish Indoor Championships, she won 400m gold and 200m bronze. During the season, she earned the 100m silver at the Kalevan Kisat, as well as 200m silver at the 24. Internationales Leichtathletik Meeting “Anhalt 2022” and Kalevan Kisat and 200m bronze at the Kuortane Games. In 400m, Milja Thureson earned the gold at the Boysen Memorial in Oslo, Karlstad, Guldensporenmeeting in Kortrijk, RIG Games in Reykjavík, as well as the silver at the Folksam GP Soderhamn and the bronze at the Kalevan Kisat. She also competed at the Munich European Athletics Championships in the 4x400m relay.

In 2023, Milja Thureson earned the bronze at the Finnish Indoor Championships in 200m and 400m. During the season she also earned the bronze at the Mondeville Meeting in 400m and competed at the Istanbul European Athletics Indoor Championships in 4x400m, but remained out of the finals. In the 4x400m relay, she won gold at the Copenhagen Nordic Senior Championships and bronze at the Bislett Games.

Milja Thureson photos