English Deutsch

Athlete of the Week: Mikko Kokslien

Created at: 13.02.2012 22:26/ st
A A A 

For some time it seemed as if the 2011/12 season would not be the season of Mikko Kokslien. After his rise to the world class last winter with his first World Cup win and the second place in the overall ranking, not much seemed to point at the 26-year-old as a favourite at the beginning of this season. His performances seemed to be not very promising, especially in jumping last summer, the start of the season in Kuusamo was difficult and until the competition break around Christmas he didn't achieve many top results. In the strong Norwegian team this meant average at best.

But now, ladies and gentlemen, we can present a totally different Mikko Kokslien, a nordic combined athlete who can rightfully call himself Athlete of the Week after becoming the King of Almaty. The year started with a bang for Kokslien when he won in Oberstdorf. After that in continued in an impressive manner because since the third competition in Chaux-Neuve the Norwegian was always on the podium.

 

King Kokslien crowned his performances with a double victory at the World Cup premiere in Almaty. With lots of self-confidence, Kokslien, who is called "Mikko the Machine" by friends and opponents because of his strength in cross country, dominated the races there in a manner which you can only call impressive.

 

But what is the secret of Kokslien, who has ski sports in his genes with his parents being cross country skiers and his uncle the Finnish ski jumper Harry Nakari? "Right now I'm mentally very calm and stable and just enjoy competing", Kokslien wrote on his website after the triumph in Almaty.

 

Generally, openness, friendliness and an always positive attitude can be named to characterize the man from Lillehammer. When asked about his very bad jumping results in summer the answer was still optimistic, in a typical Kokslien way. "Don't worry, it will get better. I have enough time to work on it."

 

"The key is to remain focused and take small steps every day", he said about what it takes to be a successful athlete in a documentary friends made about him already in 2009. "In sports it often doesn't go the way you want. The only thing you can do is look ahead and work on the little things that need improvement. You build yourself up step by step."

 

Watch the documentary about Mikko Kokslien

 

In the same calm and systematic manner Kokslien started the 2011/12 season, didn't lose the focus because of some setbacks and now returned to the top. In his current shape he is a contestant for the overall World cup title. And now that King Kokslien shows what he is capable of, you can see what we already promised in the "Athlete of the Week" presentation of his teammate Joergen Graabak, ladies and gentlemen: Fireworks!

 

Silke Tegethof





Tags:  athlet der woche | kokslien


  • Empty
  • Empty
  • Empty
  • Empty
  • Empty
Rating: 
3.4/5
 




back »

Search

Latest videos

Logo_eurosport

10.03.2012 Oslo

Worldcup

Continental cup

Public opinion poll

Wer gewinnt den Sommer-GP 2012?
nilgen.de eventfotograf.biz