Top swimmer Eetu Autio shares his experiences of Turku: everyday life runs smoothly when everything you need is close by

When Eetu Autio, one of Finland’s top young swimmers, moved to Turku last summer, he had a new coach, a new swimming club and his first rental home of his own ahead of him. In the everyday life of a top athlete, a functional home plays an important role in successful training, and Joo Kodit has been able to support Eetu on his journey towards the international top. One year later, Eetu shares what everyday life as a competitive athlete in Turku is like, why he enjoys living in Pukkila, Turku, and what it is like to live in a Joo apartment..

Eetu found his way into swimming by following his own interests as a child.

– Ever since I was a child, water has been a natural element for me, and I’ve enjoyed being in the water. That’s why swimming felt like a natural sport for me. I’m also very competitive, so competitive swimming combines those two things, Eetu explains.

The highlights of Eetu’s career so far include a Finnish junior record in the 200-metre butterfly, four Finnish championship titles and 17 Finnish junior championship titles. However, he is already focused on his next goal and is currently preparing for the European Championships in Paris at the end of the summer.

What is everyday life as a competitive athlete in Turku like?

Competitive swimming is plays a big role in Eetu’s everyday life. He trains 10–12 times a week, and his days are structured almost entirely around his training sessions.

– I wake up in the morning, eat, go to morning practice, come home from practice, eat and take a nap for a couple of hours. Then I eat again, go to evening practice, come home, eat and maybe play video games for a couple of hours or study, says Eetu, who still attends upper secondary school.

Recovery plays an important role as a counterbalance to intense training, and Eetu’s favourite place at home is therefore his bed. When asked where he spends the most time at home, the answer comes quickly.

– Probably in bed, sleeping, he laughs.

That is why he also mentions the good soundproofing as one of the benefits of his home:

– It’s really quiet here. I like that, Eetu says.

Eetu also relaxes by playing video games, and one of his favourite games at the moment is Valorant. Playing video games also allows him to keep in touch with friends who live elsewhere.

– When I play those video games, I talk to my friends who don’t necessarily live in Turku. That way, I can keep in touch with them at the same time, he explains.

Eetu's first rental home in Turku brought freedom

Moving to Turku also meant living on his own for the first time.

– I’ve lived here since July last summer. This is the first home where I’ve lived without my mum, and I’ve been happy here, Eetu says.

Living independently has also brought new things to learn.

– In a way, it’s nice to live alone, but then having to clean and cook for yourself comes with its own challenges. But it has been really nice, he laughs.

Eetu had a clear wish for his first home:

– I wanted a new apartment, and a dishwasher was one of my priorities. I also saw that these apartments had just been completed in March, so it’s pretty cool to be the first resident here.

Pukkila, Turku, offers services close to home

In the busy everyday life of a competitive athlete, it is important to have everyday services nearby. The Manhattan shopping centre is located next to Eetu’s home, and he does all his everyday shopping there.

Turku city centre is also easy to reach from Pukkila by bike or bus in around 10–20 minutes.

– I like that the supermarket is nearby, as are the city centre and Impivaara Swimming Centre, where I normally train. Everything else is close by too.

The building’s extensive shared facilities also make Eetu’s busy everyday life easier.

– It’s nice to have a gym and a laundry room downstairs. It’s good that they’re together, because I can put my clothes in the washing machine and work out at the gym for an hour while the machine washes my laundry, he says.

Settling into Turku has been easy for Eetu Autio

Although it has only been a year since he moved, Turku has already made an impression on him.

– I like that Turku seems like a big place, but in the end, it’s very community-oriented – or at least it feels more community-oriented to me than Helsinki, for example, Eetu reflects.

His favourite place is also connected to his main sport: Samppalinna Outdoor Swimming Stadium.

Carefree living has also made it easier for Eetu to settle into Turku, and he gives a special mention to Joo Kodit’s customer service.

– The best thing is probably how things are taken care of. Whenever you ask for something or have a question, you get a reply very quickly and things are handled. The premises are also kept very clean, Eetu says.

When asked whether he would recommend Joo Kodit to others, his answer comes immediately.

– Of course I would recommend Joo Kodit, because everything has been taken care of well here and I have nothing to complain about, he says.

Are you looking for a carefree rental home in Turku?

In addition to Pukkila, Joo Kodit offers rental homes in Turku in areas such as Herttuankulma and Kirstinpuisto. Explore the available apartments and find yourself a new home in Turku here.