Mika Kojonkoski - Time works in favor
Gold in Turin. Always then, when Mika Kojonkoski takes his mobile phone out of his pocket, sees dark letters on a backlit background: Gold in Turin. The Finn decided to extend the contract with the Norwegian Ski Association, expiring in the year 2004, do 2006 – for the Olympic Games in Italy.
40-year-old Mika Kojonkoski somehow betrays his philosophy. Before he started training the Norwegians, spent three years in Finland, and two seasons before that in Austria. W 2006 A Finn with a pleasant smile and sparkling eyes will have four years of work experience with foreign nations, as much and as long as the time between the Games. At the latest in 2006 the ski scene will know, what is the value of coach Kojonkoski.
About the man from Kuopio, who, as a junior, gained temporary fame in his country, there are no unanimous opinions in the professional world. Because of his sports knowledge, education, Kojonkoski is known as an expert and one of the best coaches in the World Cup (job offers from different countries are regularly submitted to the Finn). On the other hand, coach Kojonkoski did not lead any jumpers, nor any team at the big event to the gold medal. The third place was the biggest success with the Austrians, z Finami druga. But also if the loss to the winners is only 0,1 point, as was the case in the team competition at the Olympics in 2002 year – gold is gold, silver is silver.
So why coach, which is still not very successful, enjoys such trust and popularity?
Kojonkoski's words are no defense (which he doesn't need), but an attempt to explain the situation.
“When I took over the Austrian team, Andreas Goldberger was in the top five of the World Cup standings, Martin Hoellwarth, as the second best player, ranked on 21. place. When I was in charge of Austria, Goldberger won the World Cup, and at the end of the season we had six players in the top 16 and celebrated several cup victories.
Then I moved to Finland. There was Janne Ahonen in the top five and Ville Kantee, as his heir to the throne, on position 29. At the end we had six jumpers in the top 18 and six of my jumpers stood on the podium.”
In Norway the situation was much more dramatic than in Austria and Finland. But this did not stop Kojonkoski, to celebrate the first victory of a Norwegian ski jumper in many years, Sigurda Pettersena, in the World Cup. “My philosophy is to make systematic progress, to raise the level of the whole team. I want to do a good job everywhere, also in Austria, where I influenced a new training culture. However, if now the whole guard of red-white-red teenagers will advance to the World Cup, I can't quite enjoy it. When the level of the team is high, the trainer can go on to train the winning jumper. However, the final step must always be taken by the athlete himself. He himself sits on a beam, must be extremely strong, and must be lucky.”
Mika Kojonkoski still has a hard time remembering the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 year. There, the coach had one dream: gold with Finland in the team competition. He won second place
with the smallest possible start to the winners. “Was it the coach's fault??”, asks Kojonkoski today, where failure is still deeply rooted. “We were unlucky? Was it something else? 0,1 point it 16 centimeters. One jump half a meter longer would be enough. And we jumped eight times” Kojonkoski concludes: “Everyone will say, that we didn't win the gold – but we were no worse than the Germans.”
When Mika Kojonkoski started his coaching career ten years ago, saw, that his colleagues, practicing the same profession, motivation is often lacking. he decided, he won't be like them. However, before he signed the one binding him for a year 2006 year of contraction with Norway, he wondered all summer. It was a strong argument, even very strong, to finish training: his conservative offer, right-wing party, of which he has been a member for eight years. Kojonkoski had a proposition, to run in late spring and early summer 2004 year to the Parliament of the European Union.
Until November, Kojonkoski hesitated, whether to respond positively to this offer, whether to continue working with the team. In the end, he decided on sports, because he is constantly motivated to work, i like, that he has not yet finished his work. “Important people pushed me and steered me towards politics, they were also supposed to support my election campaign”, says today. “It could be an interesting task – but i wasn't ready, to say goodbye to ski jumping.”
The Norwegian newspaper VG was already prepared, to report the Finn's resignation from further work with the headline: Kojonkoski leaves! The magazine wanted to make it exclusive, but it counted. He didn't leave, signed the contract. As the coach of the Norwegians, he will continue to have his apartment in Kuopio. There he also builds his three-story house, which he would like to move into later this year. “We've been working on this for eight months, to have your own gym and swimming pool at home.”
He worked differently in Austria and Finland – who knows? Probably silenced the gold medals, skeptics, failures and knowing better. He will have it when his new contract expires
a total of four years spent in Norway, jointly with Romoeren and co, also with Bystoel, who was excluded from the team after his recent adventures with alcohol.
Four years already give an opportunity for Kojonkoski, to, “do something really important. My projects in the past were shorter in time. Now I have one more year at my disposal. Together with the players and the association, we can achieve something great.”
Gold in Turin. “I'm working for it. But first, for another purpose, for a medal at the World Ski Flying Championships in 2004 year in Planica.” His cell phone beeps, the display shows: gold in Turin.