The following is a transcript of a video interview between Unlock Magazine correspondent Rex Crain and Team Finland Olympic Speed Skater, Mika Poutala.
Rex Crain - We are here with speed skating champion from Finland, Mika Poutala, here in Vancouver preforming at the Olympics for the whole world to see. With your incredible gift, talent and commitment on display, what is this like for you?
Mika Poutala - "It's a nice life, it's nice to do what you are meant to do and you can use your talents, so it's amazing".
When did you discover that speed skating is what you were meant to do?
It wasn't that long ago, I've been speed skating about 20 years, but only maybe for 5 years i've known this is my thing.
That is incredible commitment, not only to have just a dream, but a commitment to that dream. Because we had a chance to speak together earlier, you mentioned that about 135 days a year are spent training away from your family; tell us about that what goes into making that kind of decision.
That's the worst and most difficult part of being a professional athelete, you have to be away from your family so much, but otherwise it's very nice. But of course you have to make a lot of sacrifices and concentrate to the athletes life and you can't like party you have to sleep enough and eat well and all that kind of stuff.
I think it's pretty interesting that people always will want to have a big life, they want to be committed to big results, but they are not willing to abandon certian things to get there.
Yeah, there are a lot of sacrifices you have to make if you want to achieve something big.
Absolutely. So did you set out saying I want to win a medal, or I want to go to the Olympics, what was it for you?
When I was a kid, my dream was to be in the Olympics, not to get a medal or anything.
Amazing, you are living your dream!
Yeah, and I acheived it 4 years ago, I was in Torino Olympic games. At the time, I wasn't that good, but after Torino Olympic Games I decided that I want to achieve a medal from Olympic Games. It was so close this year, it was only 300th of a second.
Wow! So you toured the Olympic Games 4 years ago.
Yeah.
And from that place you said, "hey i gotta take it to another level".
Yeah.
Oh man that's cool.
Yeah and that was the time when I began to act like a professional athlete. Before that, it was a little bit more like a hobby. It took time but I wasn't committed to it and since I made a decision, I have proved very much.
It's almost kind of a good little thing for unlocking your life and starting to act like the person you want to be, not the person you hope to be, but the person you really are committed to be. That's a cool thing. So what is next for you?, I like to think that God's idea is that life keeps getting better and better, brighter and brighter, what's next for you?
Yeah there are still a few World Cup competitions this year, I am going to compete in those. After I will take a little vacation, I need to relax a little bit. Then I think I will make new plans and new dreams; I want to still do more than only sport and only athlete, but it still will be something to do with athletics.
You know, what are some of the things that you just enjoy about life outside of being a sportsman, outside of being an incredible professional athlete, what are some of the things you just enjoy about life?
I enjoy to be with my friends and to go to church. I am a believer that God is the hope in my life and the basics of all things I do; and that's the thing where I rejoice in and where my happiness comes from.
Incredible. Well man it was an absolute honour and priviledge to meet you. As an athlete myself I am always honored to be in the presence of someone who's made such sacrifices and commitments to a God idea, that God put inside of somebody. So it's really neat to meet you, I really mean that and you've helped and inspired so many people today so it's a privilege, peace out.
Thank you.
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