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More an interview, a long discussion with Kaisa Mäkäräinen that in addition to tracking a budget (sour) of its winter, has launched a lot of ideas on various topics: the secret of his success to Kontiolahti, the possibility to have the World Cup races in April, the future of the medley relay and the team sprint. All without ever being trite and closing with a passionate declaration of love ...
Tuesday 27 May 2014 12 minutes reading time
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Let's start with a ritual question. How would you rate his 2013 season - '14 and what are your feelings just finished watching the winter? "I struggled in the first two stages, resented workouts lost in November when I was sick. But then things started to go well and eventually win the overall World Cup has allowed me to close with a great joy, because after Sochi did not think I could do it. However, the conquest of the crystal ball does not fully balance the great disappointment that I have suffered at the Olympic Games. "
What is went wrong in Sochi? "I think outside of Finland in a few have realized how bad it was during the duration of the Games. You started two days before the sprint and lasted even at home, until one week after the end of the event. At first I thought it was just my usual allergy, a problem to which they are accustomed and which does not negatively affect my results. Instead we discovered that it was a kind of virus, and I was not the only one to have the contract in Sochi. So I think my races were over before they even begin. I do not really want to remember these Olympics, is simply life done so and shit happens. "
But after Sochi things went much better and is Pokljuka seemed to be a sort of turning point in its season. You back to winning ways after two years and in subsequent stages is appeared more confident same. You there is only an impression or the truth? "The week before Pokljuka I attended the races of the World Cup skiing in Lahti. There I get to be back in shape and can be fast on skis. Surely this fact has made me confident in view of the stage where the Slovenian though, to be honest, I have not had a great time. The conditions were very difficult because The snow was wet and slow, also at the range there was always the wind. I focused on a shooting session at a time and everything started to go the right way. Could have a positive impact in the fact that I was more after Sochi relaxed. Not too much though, the stage house in Kontiolahti was one of my goals is seasonal and was great to win three races! "
About Kontiolahti, she is by far the athlete more winner in the history of the locality. What is special? Perhaps the fact that they know better than others the plant? "I do not train much in Kontiolahti, so do not think I have a better knowledge of the enemy. I just like the track and I think I would go strong in that kind of track were placed everywhere. I would say that the long climb and the subsequent first floor of the polygon are the key and the point for myself. There you just have to push, you can not afford to take a breath before the shot, do it means losing a lot of time on the slopes. Therefore to be competitive in Kontiolahti must be in good shape. "
She is only the fourth athlete after Anfisa Reztsova, Magdalena Forsberg and Magdalena Neuner able to win at least two World Cups. So in a sense it is entry in the history of biathlon. This fact has some special meaning for you? "Yes, because shows how difficult it is to excel in our sport and I personally am proud to belong to this select group. However I also believe to be the athlete with fewer Olympic medals and world of the quartet (actually it is not, Reztsova won less, ed), so I think I'm still far from the other three (and many others). I do not really see as a big star in the history of biathlon! "
Let's talk about the future. This year she is appeared more faster than ever on skis. Martin Fourcade has already said it would participate in the World Cup skiing in 2015. She has already made Fiemme 2013. thinks to repeat the experience? "But I think it was not so outstanding. Many opponents were more closer in time than they did in the past and my coach says that in 2011-2012 I skied much more quickly. I'm not going to focus on the bottom, but if the timing of the biathlon would allow me to participate in one or two races before Falun and if there I had to see to be able to compete with the best racers, then I might as well give it a little thought. However we'll talk about next winter, my current intention is to focus exclusively on the biathlon. "
Looking more long term, there is some goal yet to be achieved in your career? "Of course! I would do very well in the World Cup at home in Kontiolahti! "
Continuing the theme of the future. In early April she was in Moscow and Tyumen where performances were held. They were, however, of the races, where it was hard. Do you think that in the future it may be possible to extend the season of the World Cup to 11 appointments (10 stages plus the big event)? "Why is not it? Many athletes compete even after the end of the World Cup. Obviously there need to empty weekend for the national championships and performances, however, here in the North we have always the best snow conditions in March than at the beginning of November. So I think it is possible to start the season a week later and at the same time prolong the vintage one more week in the spring. "
Let's talk about innovation much more concrete. The Ibu plans to introduce a test team in pairs consisting of one man and one woman. Believes that it is a positive development? "I think the medley relay as now conceived not as popular. In the World Cup only a few nations deploy their best four athletes and is a sin. However, a few can afford to rest in view of the individual races, while others (like me) should always start even in the relay. My opinion is that a race like 1 +1 in Gelsenkirchen and Moscow may be more popular, but at the same time the nations strong should have the right to deploy two pairs in such a way as to have 30 starters. The format conceived as in Gelsenkirchen (ie a spin, turn, around, change and so on) would be a much better race exciting and could replace the medley relay. More in general, my thinking is there are too many runners. As I understand it the next year we will have one in almost all the stages and for countries such as Finland (and all the other small nations) is not good, because victory question for a few and we can never fight for the top-6. "
She has a special relationship with Italy, what do you like about our country and has something to say to his Italian fans? "I love Italy, perhaps because is the opposite of Finland! I like the food, nature, people and language, which I really want to learn. I've just been in Rome for the third time and has revealed a perfect trip. I'll be back from you this summer, but not on vacation, but to train. I'll stay 20 days prior to Dobbiaco and then to Bormio, where I've never been but I have spoken well in many. Italians want to say that if you like peace and quiet, then you have come to Finland. Here, your soul and your mind will rest like never before! "
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