Virpi Kuitunen ©One Way
Virpi Kuitunen - 2009 Tour de Ski overall and distance winner. ©Rossignol
Virpi Kuitunen (Finland) ©Dan Flanders file photo
Finland has long been a powerhouse for developing talent, and she holds the fort down for a pantheon of Finnish women’s sport excellence beginning with Lydia Wideman, the first woman to win Olympic gold at the 1952 Games in Oslo; Sirkka Polkunen, who dominated the 1950s as well, claiming gold in Cortina; Marjatta Kjosmaa’s skiing in the 1970s, to the greatness of Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi in the 1980s. For decades, Finnish women have had a place among the sport’s elite.
Of course, it’s unfair to put on any one woman (or man) the pressure of Vancouver 2010, but suffice to say, Kuitunen could be one of the heroines at Whistler. Few of us are ever given the chance even to try to make Olympic magic, and she views the coming Games as a great opportunity. In this interview, we talk about Kuitunen’s training and preparation for the Olympic Games, her recent statements about drug testing – in 2001 Kuitunen tested positive with 7 other Finish skiers at the Nordic Worlds in Lahti, served a 2-yr suspension and had to relinquish her silver medal in the 4x5km relay – and her relationship with teammate Aino-Kaisa Saarinen.
Virpi, how is your summer training going? Do you do a lot of skiing in summertime? Where do you go?
Virpi Kuitunen: Thanks for asking. My summer training has been going well. Summer went fast, but I feel good about my work and things I have done to improve as an athlete. Our first Team camp was on snow in Norway, Sognefjället in June. After that, I had [a bit of] contact with snow in Norway while [doing] a summer race in Meråker. But since that race, my skiing on snow has only been in the Vuokatti Ski Tunnel. That’s why I really enjoy the idea of going to Ramsau soon!
When you are not training and skiing, what do you enjoy doing for fun and relaxation?
VK: I enjoy just staying home and doing normal daily work. One of my passions is gardening. I am not that good at it, but I enjoy making our garden ready stone by stone, plant by plant. I also like cooking and baking. I can also add reading and listening to music to my list of passions.
What is your idea of a perfect day?
VK: A perfect day would start after a long, well-slept night. In the morning, I wouldn’t have to hurry anywhere and I could pick up the newspaper, put the coffee on, then go out for a short walk or run, to wake up. Then I’d sit down with the newspaper and a cup (or a litre) of coffee. I’d prepare a nice breakfast and enjoy the morning. For the rest of the day, I would just like to spend it with my loved ones doing whatever that day — but surely staying outside if the weather was nice.
You have had some great seasons in the past few years. How hard is it for you to do all the World Cups? All the travel and racing must be exhausting.
VK: Well, now that it’s been going on for many years, there is a rhythm to it, and the body is already used to it. But, on the other hand, it’s also takes a lot of eating to do that many races, and there is not enough time for basic training during the season. So there are two sides to the coin. If one stays healthy, it’s not a problem, but if there are some health troubles, it’s difficult to stay on the Tour. You learn to take it easy after the few first years.
You have done very well at the Tour de Ski. Is that an event you especially like?
VK: It’s what I like, despite the last race. Last season’s victory was one of the most emotional for me because I had so many foot and back troubles, and I still won! It’s a hard race, a hard Tour, but, normally, that suits me.
What about that last hill — was it super-tough?
VK: Yes, it was tough. In my opinion, it is too steep for skiing, but I also think that’s why the race is so popular with the viewers.
About how many hours do you train each year?
VK: During the year, I train about 700 hours.
Do you think races like this are part of the future for the sport?
VK: That’s how it looks. There’s a challenge to keep cross-country exciting for viewers and at same time keep it on the level that athletes can participate in. If it is too hard a program, athletes will choose to take part in other races. If not everyone participates in all the races, the number of the races will drop and so will the number of competitors. Another problem with Tour-type races occurs for the sprinters and how they still have races to do. On women’s side, it’s not that big a problem because many of the same faces are doing all distances, but for men, where there’s more specializing, it’s a bit of a problem to have races occurring the whole season.
In 2007, you were named Finnish Sportswomen of the Year. It must have felt very good to be so recognized at home.
VK: Yes, it felt good. In that year, Finland had so many good results from so many different athletes that winning Sportswomen of the Year was great. And winning Athlete of the Year on votes from the audience, the Finnish people, was even more great.
You and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen make a great team. What is your relationship like with her? Is it a competitive one, and are you friends off the snow?
VK: We both train with the same coach, so there’s similarity there too. I spend so much time together with Aino-Kaisa and the other team members during the year on training camps and competitions that the rest of the time (which is quite a bit less) I spend with loved ones and not that much with team members. But I have to say that I enjoy this team a lot! Of course, we are competitors on a race day, but outside of the track, we don’t compete and really have fun together!
Can you talk about what happened at Lahti in 2001 [and how it affected you personally and professionally? It must have been very hard.
VK: Actually, it’s so far behind me, I don’t think about it that much these days. I survived and was able to climb back to the top. It’s rewarding to know what my level as an athlete truly is.
This summer, you’ve been at the forefront talking about new ways to prevent doping. Please share your idea.
VK: My idea is to make sure that all athletes are found for testing at any time. Currently, we have this system where athletes must report where they are staying each day — location and hours, training places, accommodation in training camp, traveling timetables and one hour every day with exact address where you have to be on that hour. It is very challenging to determine these things three months in advance and to remember to report each change. With a sudden change of plans, you have to remember to inform the appropriate people that the address for the day is changing. To make this all easier for athletes and for the testers to locate the athletes, I suggest that all athletes wear a [locating] microchip. That way, an athlete could more easily live a normal life outside of training, and it would eradicate cases where an athlete is inconsistent regarding his/her whereabouts information. Of course, the information provided by chip would be only used by testing organizations, just as the location information is utilized now.
What do you consider your most memorable race?
VK: There’s many different races that are memorable in different ways. As I said, last year’s victory in Tour de Ski was one. Also on last year’s Tour, the 10km classic race in Nove Mesto was surely my best race performance ever – a gold medal in the Sapporo 30km classic. And in Sapporo too we won team gold when we won the team sprint with Riitta-Liisa Roponen.
You’ve had a back injury – what’s the status of that old injury?
VK: There’s a prolapse and a protrusion in my back that cause pain. My back injury affects me in many different ways, so it would be a very long story.
What’s something people do not know about you?
VK: There are lots of things, but I prefer to keep it that way. I am sure I’ve said things here that people didn’t know before.
What is your favourite food?
VK: These days, I like fish a lot.
What is your favourite music?
VK: That’s difficult. There’s so much beautiful music in the world it would be a crime to name just one or few of them.
Do you still like classic skiing better than skating?
VK: Yes, because normally there’s less pain with classic. But it doesn’t mean I don’t like skating. For example, in summertime I really enjoy skating on rollerskis.
What is your favourite movie of all time?
VK: Seabiscuit.
When growing up, who was a hero or role model for you in sport?
VK: It was the older skiers in my own ski club.
With the Olympics coming up soon and with excellent chances of doing well there, what are your thoughts on these Games?
VK: I visited Whistler last spring and the courses suit me. I am awaiting the Olympics with growing anticipation. These will be the races of the upcoming season! I feel good!
What do you think you will do after your racing career has ended?
VK: My professional future is open. I am sure it will be something in sport and health, people and their well-being.
Best of luck and thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Best wishes.
VK: Thank you. Take care.