Easter Holiday Training Week
Javier Chinchilla and Borja Beloqui had the opportunity to interview two athletes of the Finnish Olympic team during the Easter Holidays Training week organized by the Han Kuk International School.
Juho Kostiainen, 25 years old, has just finished his national economics career. He has won the Finnish National Championships 6 times, he is a member of the National Olympic team, he participated in the World and European Pre-Olympics. During this season he has achieved the gold medal at the Trelleborg Open (Sweden) and Silver medal at the German Open, he is at this moment number 1 on the ETU Ranking of the –74kg weight category.
To view the Ranking ETU: http://www.etutaekwondo.org/docs/RankingLists/RankingA-Class-male-74-09.pdf
Mari Lapinsalo, 20 years old, is passionate about taekwondo, she likes to train and accomplish goals day by day. She is 3 times Junior national champion and 2 times in the Senior Category. She participated together with her companion Suvi Mikkonen at the European Pre-Olympics which were held in Turkey (Istanbul). She is now in a recovering phase due to the recent operation on her knee.
Question: Since when have you been practicing Taekwondo and why did you chose this sport?
Juho: 14 years ago I saw an announcement at my school and my friends said that it was fun so i gave it a shot.
Mari: I started 12 years ago, I wanted to do some kind of sport and I wasn't really into to girly sports like dance etc.
Question: What motivates you to keep practicing taekwondo?
Juho: The hope to succeed, and achieve results, and the feeling that I can still improve my skills, I also have a lot of friends in Taekwondo and it has become a form of life.
Mari: Its a way of life, I have fun, I enjoy training and I think that I still have a lot to improve.
Question: What are you dreams?
Juho: An Olympic Gold Medal.
Mari: To obtain important results at the World Championships and European Championships, and to participate in the Olympics.
Question: What are your goals for this season?
Juho: Universiada and the World Championships
Mari: To fully recover from my knee injury.
Question: Qualities and defects?
Juho: Qualities: Patience and a good movement.
Defects: A loss of concentration at times.
Mari: Qualities: Good movement and Speed.
Defects: I think too much during the match.
Question: How has the week here in Spain gone up until now?
Juho: Very good, I have had a great time and i´m glad to see that the students who came with me are happy and they have integrated well.
Mari: I´m having a great time, I like to be able to come here and concentrate only on Taekwondo and get away from other distractions.
Question: What do you think about Spain and the people? Is it a good place to train?
Juho: The people are very friendly and open, I also enjoy the good weather compared to Finland.
Mari: I think the people are very nice, it is definitely a good place to train.
Question: What do you think of our team?
Juho: There is a great atmosphere and I think that the people come here to train and develop as athletes and not just to pass time.
Mari: There's a nice friendship atmosphere, people come to train and don't waste time. I like to be able to train hard and to have fun at the same time.
Question: This question is for Juho, who is responsible for the School Taekwondo Team, What is the purpose/object of you having come here with this team?
Juho: The students have trained really well the whole year, so this is kind of like a prize to finish off the year, not many of them have the opportunity to travel much so this is a good chance for them to get to know new cultures and what taekwondo is like in other countries.
We wish you the best of luck with your sports goals and dreams, and we hope that some day Jesus takes us to Finland too! hahaha =)
Interview by: Javier Chinchilla & Borja Beloqui
Translation: Suvi Mikkonen.
Han kuk International School
