Speedskating-online

At the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October, Mykola Makowsky finished 4th in the 1500m, thereby securing a spot on a World Cup team for the very first time. As a result, he debuted at the World Cup in Berlin a few weeks ago, where he competed in the 1000m and 1500m, after which he traveled to Heerenveen to skate another 1500m. Back home in Calgary, Makowsky reflects on his first World Cup experiences, and looks forward to the rest of this Olympic season.

By Jolanda Abbes

How do you look back on your first World Cup experiences?

“I have mixed feelings about my first World Cup experiences. The trip itself was great: I learned so much about what it takes to skate at the World Cup level. In fact, it was nothing like what I expected it to be. By qualifying for the 1500m, I am one of the best in Canada, but every country sends their best to the World Cups. Each skater is a great speed skater. Since each skater is a good skater, it requires me to be on top of my game with a small margin for errors. As for racing, I was very disappointed because I didn’t execute my races. I didn’t have the results I am capable of, because I didn’t skate like I can and I didn’t focus on what works for me.”

What would you consider to be the highlight and greatest disappointment of the European World Cups?

“The highlight was being there. Berlin was my first World Cup and I feel a great sense of accomplishment for qualifying. Having said so, just being at World Cups isn’t my goal, but a stepping stone to achieving much more. My greatest disappointment was that I didn’t trust myself. It is really easy to do too much to try and achieve great things. I tried to do too much when I needed to continue doing what got me to the World Cups.”

Can you share a good story on your first World Cup experiences?

“Berlin. I went downtown one afternoon to see Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz, et cetera. When I came back to the hotel, I got a nice surprise. Someone played a practical joke on me. They hung a water bottle, my pen, skate guard, et cetera from the ceiling with electrical tape. They taped all my pants up in a ball. They hung some shorts from a vent above my bed. They laid out my entire racing suit and warm-ups, complete with glasses and skates, on my bed and taped it to the bed.”

How do you look forward to the rest of the season?

“I’m excited about the rest of the season. It’s a great chance to keep refining my approach to racing, and learning how to race like the best in the world. My primary goal for the year is qualifying for the Olympics... It’s that simple.”

What would you consider to be your chances of qualifying for the Olympics?

“I am not guaranteed anything, but my chances are good if I skate as well as I can. At the Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond, I finished 4th in the 1500m and there are up to 4 spots per distance, so I believe that my chances are real.”

What is the one thing/most memorable moment that sticks out for you when you think of the Olympics?

“Simon Whitfield, men’s triathlon, in Beijing 2008. For much of the run, he was dropped by the front runners and everyone wrote him off. Even the commentator, who was Simon’s roommate at one point, thought he was done. But Simon stuck on, kept fighting and with about 1 km to go, had the most incredible determined look on his face, threw off his hat and focused. He then took off. One of the front runners caught him with 50 m to go, but that is one of the best performances at an Olympics ever. That’s what the Olympics are about, being your absolute best whether it’s easy to do so, or you have to climb a mountain. He never gave up.”

How do you remember the last Olympics, in Torino?

“The Torino Games were Cindy Klassen’s Olympics. I remember being in awe, it was like a snowball effect. The first medal was great, then another one, and another one. I, like many others, didn’t know what she was capable of and my excitement grew after every medal.”

Who would you consider to be the greatest Olympic speed skater ever?

“This is a tough question. I remember watching Johann Olav Koss skate in Lillehammer. I broke my left leg skating short track so I was in a cast during the Lillehammer Games. Every morning my mom would wake me up at 7 am and carry me to a leather recliner in the living room so I could watch. I especially remember his 10k where he lapped his pair. After hearing him speak on several occasions, I see why he has achieved what he has, and my respect continues to grow for him.”

How do you look forward to the fact that the Olympics will practically be in your own backyard next year? Does that fact create extra pressure or do you think it will give the Canadian athletes a significant home advantage?

“Pressure is in the eye of the beholder. Some people see all Canadians as added pressure; I see it as having a whole country behind me, supporting me. There is nothing more exciting than having a home Olympics, because when I get to the line, hearing the crowd will give me a feeling that I won’t be able to explain. It’s pretty magical knowing that I would have a whole country behind me, pushing me along.”

Can you describe what the Olympics mean to you?

“For me, the Olympics are about putting forward your best performance, whether you finish first or last, and celebrating it. Of course there will be a winner, but every performance can be celebrated, especially if each athlete does their best. There is no shame in finishing behind someone if you had your best performance, and they were just better than you. My goal, should I qualify for the Olympics, is to have the race of my life. That is all I can control. If I skate the best I can, regardless where I place, I will be happy.”

This weekend and the next, Makowsky will be competing at the World Cups in Calgary and Salt Lake City.

Photo credits:

Photo 1 and 4: DESGphoto/Lars Hagen

Photo 2 and 3: submitted by Mykola Makowsky

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