Our sponsorship program, Kaleva Media Talents, supports young, talented individuals in the fields of sports and culture, and it is part of the Kaleva Vire program.
The Kaleva Media Talents program was established in 2019 when we recognized promising young talents who deserved support in their careers.
It is important for us to support young people who have the potential to reach the top of the world in their discipline—especially in sports and fields where obtaining support can be challenging.
We are happy and proud of the success of our talents—they are the ones who put our country on the world map.
Meet Kaleva Media Talents
Mette Baas
Mette Baas (born 2000) has risen to the forefront of Finnish sprinting. Originally from Tornio, now living in Joensuu, Mette currently focuses on the 200 m (personal best 23.56) and the 400 m (personal best 52.10).
As an athlete, Mette is ambitious and determined. By nature, she is positive and has a good sense of humour. She works hard to achieve her goals and genuinely enjoys tough training.
She gives her full focus to her performances, yet her approach always includes a sense of ease and humour.
Mette is coached by Jani Hirsivaara, and she represents Joensuun Kataja.
Achievements
- Finnish Championship gold (400 m) in 2024, 2023, 2021, and 2020
- Finnish Championship silver (200 m) in 2021
- Finland–Sweden Athletics Match victories in 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021
- Indoor Finnish Championship gold (400 m) in 2018 and 2019
- Under-19 World Championships national team representation (400 m, 4×400 m) in 2018
Aaro Davidila
Aaro Davidila, born in 2000, is a triple jumper from Rovaniemi.
As an athlete, Aaro is a determined trainer with a strong will to win and excellent pressure tolerance. He performs at his best in major competitions.
Since 2011, his coach has been Markku Halonen, and Aaro represents Lapin Lukko.
Achievements
- Finnish Indoor Championship gold 2025 and 2024
- Finnish Championship bronze 2024
- Finnish Championship gold 2023
- 3rd place, Kaleva Games 2024
- 1st place, Kaleva Games 2023
- Finnish Indoor Championship bronze 2023, 2021 and 2019
- Finnish Indoor Championship silver 2022
- Under-19 Indoor Finnish Championship gold 2019
- Under-19 Nordic Championships silver 2018
- Under-19 Indoor Finnish Championship silver in both triple jump and high jump 2018
- Under-17 Finnish Championship gold 2017
Ada Hautala
Ada Hautala, born in 2003, is an artistic gymnast from Liminka. She has practiced gymnastics for more than ten years.
Since autumn 2018, Ada has been part of the women’s national A-team and its core group. She was just a 15-year-old junior star when she made her debut at the European Championships in 2019. Ada’s career has been marked by injuries and continuous rehabilitation. Still, quitting has never crossed the mind of this young athlete, who approaches her sport with deep passion.
Ada represents Oulun Pyrintö, and her coach is Pauliina Savola.
Achievements
- All-around Finnish Championship silver 2025
- World Championships representation 2023
- Women’s Finnish Championship gold on beam and floor 2020
- Women’s European Championships representation 2019
- Quota place for the Youth Olympic Games in the Baku qualification event 2018
- 9th place in the all-around at the Youth Olympic Games 2018
- Junior Finnish Championship gold on uneven bars, beam and floor 2018
- European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) representation 2017
Laura Kangasniemi
Laura Kangasniemi, born in 2000, is a para dressage rider from Haapavesi. Laura and her horse Goldprins train in Germany at McLean Reitsport under top-level coaching.
Laura began riding at the age of 12, originally competing in show jumping. She had a dream: to compete in the Olympics. In March 2017, Laura was seriously injured in a show jumping accident, and her future seemed uncertain.
Determined and ambitious, Laura returned to the saddle just three months after the injury. In 2020, she received her para classification and now competes in Grade IV.
In 2024, Laura achieved her long-held dream: she competed at the Paris Paralympics.
Achievements
- Paralympics, Paris 2024
- Finnish Championship silver, Supremo 2022
- Finnish Championship bronze, Finnman 2021
Anni Kärävä
Anni Kärävä, born in 2000, is a freeski athlete from the slopes of Ruka. In recent years, Anni has established herself among the top five female skiers in the world.
Anni is a member of the Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle A National Team and has been training and competing around the world for the past several years. Her main goal is to be among the best skiers in the world — a goal she has already achieved with great success. Anni is currently preparing for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, for which she was selected among the first group of athletes.
Inspiring young people, especially girls, to take up sports is important to Anni. She wants to serve as a role model both as an athlete and as a person. She is cheerful, upbeat and determined. She focuses fully on skiing when needed and trains diligently. In her view, nothing is better than skiing with friends.
Anni represents the freestyle club Moebius.
Achievements
- 3rd place, X Games invitational, women’s moguls and slopestyle, Aspen 2025
- 9th place Big Air & 15th place Slopestyle, Beijing Olympics 2022
- Bronze in Big Air & 7th place Slopestyle, Engadin World Championships 2025
- 5th place Slopestyle & 10th place Big Air, Bakuriani World Championships 2023
- 5th place, Youth Olympic Games, Lillehammer 2016
- 5th place, Junior World Championships, Valmalenco 2017
- 12th place, Senior World Championships, Sierra Nevada 2017
- 11th place, World Cup Final, Silvaplana 2019
- 3rd place, Europa Cup, Livigno 2019
Topi Käyhkö
Topi Käyhkö (born 2008) is a golfer from Oulu. Golf has become a passion and a way of living for Topi and it has truly captured his heart.
Topi estimates that his drives range between 270 and 290 meters. For comparison, at the highest level of men’s competitive golf—the PGA Tour—the average driving distance of the world’s top professionals in 2023 was approximately 274 meters.
His coaching team includes strength coach Ilkka Matila as well as OGK’s Peter Erofejeff and Tommi Linna.
Achievements
- Finnish Stroke Play Championship (U16): Gold in 2023, Silver in 2024
- Winner of the Northern Finland Championship in Virpiniemi and Sankivaara, 2024
- Won the Northern Finland Championship 2024 and represented Finland in the Boys’ European Team
- Championships
- Member of the Finnish U18 national team
- Represented Finland in the Boys’ European Team Championships in Austria, 2024
Niilo Moilanen
Niilo Moilanen is a 23-year-old cross-country skier from Oulu, known for his quick feet.
Niilo’s goal for the coming years is to successfully represent Finland in the pursuit of world and Olympic medals. His long-term aim is to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games and contend for a medal in the classic sprint.
As an athlete, Niilo describes himself as determined and analytical. His favorite training sessions are all the intense interval workouts where he can push his limits and challenge his body. “Training is always done seriously, but not solemnly: there must be room for humor,” he says.
Moilanen, who represents Pohti SkiTeam, is coached by Tuomo Kiviniemi.
Achievements
- 1st place, Junior World Championships sprint, Vuokatti 2021
- 2nd place, Junior World Championships relay, Vuokatti 2021
- 7th place, Finnish Championships sprint (senior category), Pyhäjärvi 2021
- 3rd place, Finnish Junior Championships 20 km, Jyväskylä 2021
- 2nd place, Finnish Junior Championships team sprint, Jyväskylä 2021
- 1st place, Finnish Junior Championships sprint, Kontiolahti 2021
Selma Välitalo
Selma is currently the only figure skater from Northern Finland who competes in the adult national team.
Selma’s strengths include glide, speed and spins. Her programs feature demanding elements, such as a combination of two triple jumps—something few skaters in Finland perform. Born in 2002, she is among Finland’s elite as a national team athlete and actively pursues spots in major international competitions.
Selma is coached by Heidi Valkama.
Achievements
- Personal best total score 142.46, ISU CS Golden Spin, Zagreb 2024
- 5th place, Volvo Open Cup 50th, 2023, Riga
- 1st place (Junior), The Nordics 2019, Linköping
