Mustafe Muuse: Running with Turku in his heart

This interview with Mustafe Muuse is carried out remotely, as the busy athlete spends much of his time in St. Moritz, Switzerland. That is where he practices with his coaching team for a large part of the year.

When Muuse, who is in his twenties, comes back to Finland, he always makes time for Turku, no matter how little time he has.

– Turku is definitely my base. I always feel calm and confident there. It makes me remember who I am, says Muuse.

Muuse may have been born and raised in Turku, but the city has not always been kind to him. During his primary school years, Muuse lived in Moisio with his family. There, they were often harangued by local neo-Nazis. Eventually, Muuse’s mother decided that enough was enough. She wanted her children to feel safer and moved her family to Katariina.

While Katariina was safe and close to nature, Muuse didn't make any friends there and did not end up spending a lot of time outside.

He found reading instead. He would visit the local library frequently and bring piles of detective stories home with him.

Back then, I read so much. It was kind of an escape from everything.

Influence is important

Sports and running were already important to Muuse in his teens, but he did not end up being accepted for the sports programme at Kerttuli upper secondary school. However, the doors that did open for him were at Turun Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu upper secondary school.

Muuse’s grades at the matriculation exams very respectable, but making plans for the future in the middle of the uncertainty of COVID was difficult for him and many others. However, Muuse knew that he would be focusing on sports.

– A top athlete's career can only last for a certain period. I decided that now is my opportunity to try.

Muuse gets his determination from his mother. His mother raised her children to aim high and to always do their best. That is an attitude that you need for good results. Muuse’s results have improved little by little – he was voted Turku Resident of the Year in 2024 and received the Role Model of the Year award at this year’s Sports Gala.

Using his influence and talking about things that matter has always been important to Muuse. Muuse took part in the TALO project, which works to promote multiculturalism and equality in athletics. He speaks openly about the racism that he has faced and the status of immigrants.

Muuse believes that doing so can help others like him with similar troubles.

– The racist attitudes I faced when I was young made me believe, for the longest time, that there was something wrong with me. It took me a long time process and get over that.

In the past, it was mostly radicalised people that were racist or violent, but these days, Muuse thinks that things have got worse.

– We have people among our government ministers with racist attitudes. I’ve also started to notice micro-level racism when I come back to Finland. My bag gets checked when I go to the store with friends.

Despite it all, Muuse isn't bitter. He believes that grassroots work to improve the integration of immigrant families is what’s important. Changing generational attitudes takes a long time, and it’s not just ethnic Finns that need an attitude check.

According to Muuse, his own grandfather has said that they will never be Finnish.

– I mean, seriously, it’s a hard thing to hear from others, when someone says that you will never be accepted in Finland, despite being born here. It doesn’t matter if they’re family or other Finns, says Muuse.

Language and literature create identity

Muuse believes that some of the best ways to strengthen your identity and sense of belonging are language and literature. This year, he is selecting the Finlandia Award winner for children and youth literature and is very excited about the honour.

As a certified bookworm, Muuse wants children and youth literature to be bold and include all kinds of themes that are important to young readers.

– I know that young people can handle serious and difficult themes, says Muuse.

Even on longer training camps, this runner still relaxes and resets with a book. His partner, Nathalie Blomqvist, who is also a long-distance runner, is a part of the same coaching group. She is someone that can share the stresses and uncertainties of the sport.

In Turku, Muuse likes to see his family and friends and hang out at his favourite spots.

– We have the best archipelago in the world and the Aura River, the Paavo Nurmi Stadium and the Market Square, says Muuse.

Muuse can see himself continuing to live in Turku. He has just turned 24 and is certainly not lacking in confidence. He thinks that the life and commitments of a top athlete and the goals that call for perseverance will prepare him for challenging tasks later in life. He says that he could even aim to be the Mayor of Turku.

– Actually, why stop there. Why not President of Finland. It would be pretty amazing to have a brown president in this country, says Muuse.

TEXT: HEIDI HORILA

The article has been published in Finnish in Turkuposti 2, 2025.