Kuortane: Where Olympic Legacy Meets Aquatic Innovation
There is a particular sense of symmetry at work in Kuortane. Finland’s leading Olympic Training Centre, a facility that has shaped the country’s sporting ambitions for decades, has recently introduced a technology closely associated with the Olympic Games. Myrtha Pools, trusted across six Olympic editions, has installed a movable split bulkhead at the centre, and the story behind its arrival is almost as compelling as the engineering itself.
Much of the emotional dimension of this project centres on one individual. Tapio Korjus, gold medallist in javelin at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the centre’s long-serving principal, retired at the end of 2025, leaving behind a facility shaped by his relentless pursuit of world-class standards. The Myrtha bulkhead arrived in the closing chapter of his tenure, standing as a fitting addition to a legacy built on a deep understanding of elite preparation.
The installation itself is simple in concept, yet quietly transformative in practice. A split movable bulkhead, fully compliant with World Aquatics regulations, allows a single pool to accommodate multiple configurations. Different disciplines, distances and training sessions that would previously have required separate pools or complex scheduling can now coexist within the same space. For a training centre of Kuortane’s size, this represents a genuine step forward.
The path to Kuortane ran through Allastech Oy, Myrtha’s Finnish distributor, established in early 2024 as a subsidiary of Unidors Oy, a family-run business approaching its fortieth year of operation. Decades of industry experience, long-standing relationships within Finnish aquatics, and a team with competitive swimming in their background gave Allastech the credibility to represent one of the sector’s most established manufacturers. Their engagement with Kuortane dates back to 2023, when discussions began around separate technical matters, prior to the Myrtha partnership. When the bulkhead opportunity arose, the connection followed naturally.
Myrtha’s broader ambitions in Finland extend well beyond this single installation. As an official partner of Aquatics Finland, the company is addressing a wider issue: ageing pool infrastructure caught between sustainability pressures and rising performance expectations. This vision was clearly reflected during a major event held last year at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, where stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of aquatic infrastructure, with a focus on sustainability, responsible design and athlete wellbeing. Innovations such as Myrtha Breathe, designed to improve air quality in indoor aquatic environments, demonstrate an approach that extends beyond the water itself.
