Venla Mennala is a name of the moment. She is defending her bronze medal at the Junior European Orienteering Championships in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, on 25–27 June 2026 and has signed a partnership agreement with KSBR, a comprehensive construction project provider. As one of her partners, KSBR enables her progression toward a professional career.

– Supporting the development of young people is an important value for us and a core part of our operations in construction projects, says Marko Leppänen, CEO of KSBR.

Venla Mennala has worked her way toward elite sports with determination from an early age.

– I’ve been told that at the age of five I was already eager to win a children’s mini marathon in Helsinki. And I did, says Venla, who lives in Hämeenlinna, with a smile.

Sport has been a shared hobby for the entire Mennala family, but Venla has made her own choices when it comes to disciplines. Her range is remarkable: she has won Finnish Championship, European Championship, and World Championship medals in biathlon, cross-country skiing, athletics, and orienteering.

– I think engaging in multiple sports helps maintain motivation. At the top level, many sports also require good body control. That’s why it’s an advantage that I’ve done everything from floorball to artistic gymnastics.

Inspired by an idol to take up biathlon

Although expectations for success are currently focused on orienteering in the summer, biathlon has emerged as her main sport. Her enthusiasm for the discipline began early, inspired by watching competitions on television.

– I won a Hippohiihto youth race at the age of eight on the same day Kaisa Mäkäräinen won a World Cup event. I wanted to try biathlon, it looked like so much fun, Venla recalls.

Do she and her idol and perhaps even the construction industry share similar traits?

– Key qualities in endurance sports are perseverance and determination. Those are qualities we all certainly need.

A coach with Olympic credentials

Venla Mennala’s athletic career began under the guidance of her mother, a physical education teacher. About a year ago, however, the multi-talented athlete was joined by a top-level coach. Matti Haavisto, known for his work with Olympic and World Championship medalist Krista Pärmäkoski, became interested in mentoring the talented and medal-driven young athlete.

According to Venla, training has gone well, and signs of comprehensive development are evident.

As Pärmäkoski brings her successful skiing career to a close, the thought has arisen whether her coach might have additional resources to dedicate to his new protégé.

– We haven’t made any major changes this spring yet, but it’s possible that Matti will now have more time for other things, Venla reflects.

Her ambitions are set high –  at the very top.

– In the big picture, I want to be able to pursue sports professionally in the future and measure my full potential. My goals are at the senior international level in biathlon.

Next winter, the main competition will be the European Youth Olympic Festival in Romania in mid-February.

– There I’ll be able to measure myself against others of my own age at a major event. So far, my championship medal in biathlon has come from age categories 2–4 years older than mine.

Quality as a common denominator

According to her manager Janne Lamberg, financial support from partners is particularly important for training camps, competition travel, and other expenses.

– As a manager, I see that KSBR and the other partners align well with Venla’s values. It has been great to see a healthy approach where none of the partners have put excessive pressure on a young prospect, but instead want to enable Venla to achieve her dreams, Lamberg says.

From KSBR’s values, Venla highlights above all the importance of quality.

– For me as well, an important value is that whatever I do, I do it properly, she says.

– The quality of the work speaks for itself, whether it is a demanding construction project or a performance on the competition field, Marko Leppänen emphasizes.