Mari Laukkanen: It will not be '' easy but prover '' to get the medal to Hochfilzen and sprint in Lahti

Mari Laukkanen tells NeveItalia the intentions for the upcoming winter season, the coaching change in Finland and his personal projects after a long spring break and the 'gold medal won in the summer with the Finnish team at the World ski roll-biathlon .

Tuesday 22 November 2016 11 minutes reading time

After playing his worst season for several years now you want to occorsale disease in half '' in January and would like for its almost atavistic idiosyncrasy with polygons standing Finnish biathlete Mari Laukkanen and '' now ready to start over and with increased motivation the new season of the World Cup nearly upon us with the classic opening on Swedish soil. With the late start of preparations something seems to have changed for the better for Mari that after the medal in relay at the summer of Otepaa world, has last week also beat Kaisa MÃ¤kÃ¤rÃ¤inen Vuokatti in the first winter tests demonstrating that it had increased its percentage to the polygon. Note to the world of biathlon biathlete to be the second most '' popular Finland twenty-nine Eno not only aims to '' chance to finally win an individual medal at the World Championships Hochfilzen but also leaves an open door to be in the quartet Suomi that will play the sprint skating at the world Cross in Lahti skiing. Last Saturday, then this possibility was further strengthened with the overwhelming victory in the Suomen Cup sprint in Rovaniemi which has passed all the authorities Ugric specialists of this short test. "It '' one thing I'm thinking but I will consider at the appropriate time that is close to the world championship competitions in late February and considering my condition at that time. At the time and '' only one chance and I just wanted to test here in Rovaniemi with the Finnish specialists of nordic skiing. " It would not even be a first time for Mari Laukkanen compete without rifle on his shoulders since already boasts a 15th place at the Olympics in Sochi in a skating sprint, a prestigious 5th place in a pre-Olympic year earlier but above all the 'gold in u23 world of Hinterzarten in 2010. - After you get your first podium in the World Cup in Kontiolahti in March 2013 and have played your best year in 2014-15, the last year is not '' go as you hoped. For you have in advance you concluded the season in the middle of the World Cup in Holmenkollen. Thing '' happened and you found out the reasons for your not positive season? "I've had some good races in January 2016. Then I got sick and never returned to those levels. We have discovered that I had mononucleosis and this has had an adverse effect on my body. I could not work in the right way and without recuperavo from the fatigue of training normally. This drove my body into overtraining or rather my body was too overloaded. So '' I had to finish the season in the middle of the World Championships. I made a long break in the spring making it possible to my body and my mind to recover fully. And in fact I did not even know if I would be back to my level, but after two months of total stop I felt that the feelings were again better even though I was in bad shape. I made an '' additional month off engines and my reactions and finally after three months complete stop I saw that it was possible to train and place '' in July I felt that I was ready to start training again. " You are one of the fastest racers in biathlon but historically weak point your circuit are the polygons standing. Have you tried something new during 'summer to improve in this critical biathlon? "Basically I focused on two things with my coach: mental training and shoot after strenuous exercise - with a heartbeat even higher than in the race -. In this way we tried to be prepared for what will happen in the race both on the mental side than on the physical. " - Since last May, Finland has a new head coach. After the resignation of Mark Antti Laaksonen is now Leppavuori in office to this role. Can you tell us something more about the methods of Leppavuori and on the personality as it is back nell''ambiente of racing after 15 years? "We have done some hard basic training as he did even 15 years ago. But all in all Antti he has also made its own new beginning with us. We are trying to learn what it takes to get better results and push our limits further. But dall''altro side scrupulously checking workloads. Antti is a very analytical man-I think this is due to its courses taught for the 'universities - and brought some new details that made us move forward. The first year for a new coach is never easy but I think we did a good job as a group. I'm happy to work with him in this new staff that the Federation has brought with us. " What are your main expectations for the upcoming season in the World Cup? And for the World Cup in Hochfilzen we expect a medal because it is a place that you know very well after your transfer in Austria? "Mainly I expect to compete in full health and then to make the races as I know I can do. I do not feel any pressure to make results at the time. I'm looking for good feelings and my personal level, then for the rest we will see him in the future. " Following the results of the Junior involved in national competitions I see that in Finland the number of young biathletes rose by 15% over the last 10 years. How do you see the future of the biathlon in Finland? "Surely the biathlon in Finland is growing. For example, the number of viewers on national television YLE broadcasting the races free is becoming more and this helps a lot. We have a great challenge ahead in building a good working system, beginning with the youth such as you and '' began to do with 'the Vuokatti Sports Institute. We are building this step by step and we hope that the road to the summit becomes progressively easier for young biathletes in the future. " During the 'summer we will see much active in your new project "Be a champion with me." Can you tell us more '' on this on your own initiative? "I am very proud and happy about this new project. I started for the first time last year. At the end of season 5 young athletes have received a small salary from me as a result of their results. They have achieved a personal medal in both the cross country and biathlon is in the national championships of the category. I wanted to find a way to support them. Then quest''anno there were 30 young athletes who have had dell''aiuto to me with sports equipment, technical equipment, energy drinks and with training camps together. I can not give much, but I would like to prove that I am interested in them and to all their ambitions which I find very exciting for myself. All''etÃ 13-16 years you can not really tell who is a great champion, but with your support and interest you can help them improve their motivation and maybe one day they become a one of the many specialties. "

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