MARTIN KOUKAL

Martin, I know you told many times it, but one´s more please. Tell me about your beginnings…
I started with skiing on alpine one. Then I played hockey and with cross-country skiing I started in Ski club Zdar nad Sazavou approximately in age of 7. I have started with cross-country skiing definitively at twelve years. There was a good team there and we raced on a good level.

I anticipace, you originate from a very sports family…
My father played ice-hockey in Kometa Brno team and sometimes he participated in cross-country skiing races during his study on high school. My brother playes ice-hockey in Pardubice team at present..

…have you ever played with him??
No, my brother is 4 years younger than me. We didn´t meet on ice, but as children we sometimes „trained" in living room….:)

You are both successful in your favourite sports. You have 3 medals from junior championship; good placement on World Championship in Lahti and on Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, too. But on World Championship in Val di Fiemme you raced excellent and reached great results. Can you explain it?
My co-operation with coach Christer Skog univocally. I have started co-operate with Skog last spring and on winter I could see the improving. He has stupendous experiences and I knew with it in my trainigs. I had a good results but from time I co-operate with Christer my efficiency has gone up.

But I think you can do maximum but results don´t have to respond to your effort sometimes. You need some fortune…
Of course, but in race on 50 km distance it isn´t on fortune. You must be in a good form, good strain and also you must have a little fortune..

Race on 50km free-style; it was the last day of World Championship. You must be in perfect condition after 14 days staying in WCH...
But I had known I was in a shipshape and from the beginning I was successful and OK so I could expect the best result.

And what about your service in Val di Fiemme?
It was absolutely on perfect level during my stay there; without any problem.

By the end of the last season some athletes signed declaration against SKI-DUATHLON. What´s your opinion?? Do you agree with this new discipline?
I like ski-duathlon because of mass start. I know this discipline is atractive for spectators and but for some competitors? It is difficult because of economy…

What is your specialization?
I have no specialization; I race in all tracks. I like cross-country skiing because of variety of cross-country skiing. Also in training.

How often do you see with your coach??
It isn´t so bad. I was two times in Sweden for 10 days where I trained with other swedish competitors. I am happy that my co-operation with Christer Skog is perfect.

Are swedish sportsmen sympatic or cool??
They are in a good mood. Mathias Fredriksson is a little bit reserved, his brother Thobias is great partner. It is perfectly time spent with them.

What are your next plans?
I prepare for World Championship 2005 in Oberstdorf but the biggest aim is participation on Olympic Games in Torino 2006, of course.

In WCH 2005 in Oberstdorf there would be a race – RELAY SPRINT. With whom would you like to go this race?
With Lukas Bauer, of course. I think we have a chance for medal. Because in this race versatile competitors have a great chance. For example Di Centa – Zorzi or Sommerfeldt – Angerer.

Martin, thanks for your disturbing and I wish you good luck in whole outgoing season..

PROFILE OF MARTIN KOUKAL

Name: Martin Koukal
Born: 25th. September 1978
Adress: CZ- 59101 Zdar nad Sazavou, Sipkova 3
Occupation: Cross-country skier, Student (Economy)
Coach: Jiri Bradac
Doctor: Frantisek Koukal
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 68 kg /150lbs./
Club: SKP Jablonex Jablonec nad Nisou
1st.Club: LO ZDAS Zdar nad Sazavou
Other Sports: Climbing, Biking, Duathlon/ Triathlon, Hockey, Squash

Equipment:
Skis: Atomic /Lenght- Classic- 201cm; Skating- 190cm/
Poles: Exel /Lenght- Classic- 146cm; Skating- 157,5cm/
Boots - For Ski: Adidas - Running: New Balance
Clothing- National Team: Sportful
Club: Atex
Personal: Craft
Underwear: Craft
Gloves: LillSport
Googles: Briko

Results:
1994-1995: 1st.,2nd.,3rd.place- European Olympic Youth Days-Andorra
1995-1996: 7th.place- Junior World Championship Asiago-Italy
1996-1997: 3rd.,4th.place- Junior World Championship Calgary-Canada
27th.place- World Championship Trondheim- Norway
1997-1998: 1st.,3rd.place- Junior World Championship St. Moritz-Switzerland
35th.,15th.place- Olympic Games Nagano- Japan
1998-1999: 7th.,11th.,21th.place- World Cup
22nd.,23rd.,8th.place- World Championship Ramsau- Austria
1999-2000: 3rd.,16th.place- World Cup
2000-2001: 9th.,12th.,14th.,18th.place- World Cup
14th.place- World Championship Lahti- Finland
2001-2002: 3rd.,2x 7th.,11th.,19th.place– World Cup
10th.,21th.,7th.place- Olympic Games Salt Lake City- USA
Teams: 1994-1995: Olympic Development Team
1995-1997: Junior National Team
1997-2003: National „A" Team

• Martin Koukal Official Web site

Veronika Hrušková             

Update 05-01-04.