Teen gymnast with Down syndrome aims for world stage

Fourteen-year-old Sara Rummukainen is already competing internationally in gymnastics and has become one of Finland's most promising athletes with Down syndrome.

Her path into competitive gymnastics was far from straightforward.

As a young child, Rummukainen passed the selection tests for her local club's competition squad and was initially offered a place. The following day, however, her parents received another message saying the offer had been withdrawn after an alleged mix-up involving two girls with the same name.

Her father, Mikko Rummukainen, said he suspected the decision was about more than a simple administrative error.

The turning point came when coach Laura Kaipanen from HIFK Gymnastics saw Rummukainen training.

"I immediately noticed that Sara loved gymnastics. She smiled all the time and you could see that she had exactly the qualities needed for gymnastics. Sara is strong, she has good mobility and above all, she is really tenacious," Kaipanen said.

Sara's Down syndrome was never a reason to exclude her from competitive sport, according to Kaipanen.

She added that she has always seen Sara first and foremost as a talented gymnast who loves the sport and is committed to improving.

"The fact that she has Down syndrome doesn't make her gymnastics any less valuable than anyone else's."

Now training around 12 hours a week, Rummukainen says she enjoys the demanding schedule.

"I always want to improve and move forward, and I never get tired of training," she said.

Recently, Sara won an open gymnastics competition, despite being the only athlete with an intellectual disability in the field.

Internationally, she competes in gymnastics for athletes with Down syndrome and is already among the world's top performers in her category. Her long-term goal is to become the world's best.

She had hoped to represent Finland at this summer's World Championships, but a broken ankle shortly before the event ended those plans. She is now aiming for next year's Special Olympics World Games in Chile.

Sara's parents say raising a child with Down syndrome has often meant fighting for equal opportunities. They recall lengthy negotiations before she was eventually accepted into a mainstream primary school.

Together with coach Kaipanen, they hope Sara's success encourages more sports clubs to welcome athletes with disabilities.

Kaipanen believes Sara has already helped pave the way for future generations, adding that everyone has the right to pursue their dreams.

There are some 3,600 people in Finland living with Down syndrome, according to the Finnish Brain Foundation. It is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, known as trisomy 21. Around 70 children with Down syndrome are born in Finland each year.