SynchroNice / Third Edition / 2018

at practice (big smile). In the future, I would like to go to university to study Russian. I have been to a Finnish-Russian elementary school and junior high and I am eager to learn more about the language. When the season is over or when we are on our summer break I like to travel! I have already visited so many places and Africa is the last continent on my bucket list to visit. Impressive, how is that on your side Aino-Kaisa? Well, I started my nursing studies two years ago and I am certain this is what I was born to do, my calling so to speak! I really en- joy studying a lot and I’m basically studying when- ever I am not skating. As my studies take up a lot of my spare time, I don’t have time to work, but luckily my studies include a lot of internships where I can get work experience from. If I have any spare time left from skating and studies I like to watch Netflix and hangout with my boyfriend. I also love sauna! It is an excellent way of recovering and relaxing after a camp for example. How about family & Pets, for instance, do you still live with your parents? Aino-Kaisa? I was born in Porvoo which is about 50km from Helsinki. Our family moved to Vantaa, closer to Helsinki, when I started skating in Helsinki. I live at home with my parents. I have an older brother, but he is 19 years older than I am, so I have basically been raised as a single child. My brother has three children and I have the privilege to be an aunt to these precious children. I have been an aunt since I was seven years old, and enjoyed it so much, ever since! My cousins are closer to my age and therefore maybe more like sisters to me – cousins by blood but sisters by heart. And you Iines? My family lives in Helsinki.My family, are my parents and two younger brothers. I have moved out and I currently live with one of my team mates Tuuli. We call our apartment Casa de Unique ;) Living with a teammate is super! We have similar rhythms and we understand each other without basically any explanations. I don’t have any pets and neither does my family, but in the future, I am hoping to get a dog, because I absolutely love them! What is the absolute best thing about skating Iines? The thing I most enjoy about skating is how much you are able to improve yourself physically and mentally. I believe that skating has made me a stronger person both physically and mentally. The things you learn from skating can carry you through your whole life. Dealing with real life situ- ations becomes a whole lot easier when you have gained perspective, persistence and dedication from skating. And I just love skating! Aino-Kaisa? The journey up to this point has not been easy for sure, and it shouldn’t be. I have had to work a lot on my mental capacity as well as on my skating skills. The journey I made from that little girl to the proper athlete I am today, has taught me so much! Most importantly it has taught me persistence and the ability to rise up to the challenge every time. It has taught me to believe inmyself and that improvement is a life time process and that you can always be better than you were yesterday. So, the best thing about skating is…what it made me as a person. It’s not easy to get selected for World’s, how are the teams selected in Finland, Iines & Aino-Kai- sa? Indeed, the situation we have in Finland is quite different frommany other synchro countries as we have so many very good teams in Finland and even if you are the reigning world champion you might not make it to worlds the next year. This means that Finnish Nationals are a very important competition to all senior teams in Finland. This year the Finnish Champion and the team with the highest season’s best score will be sent to worlds. The qualification method differs from previous years as the season’s best score counts and you can make it at international competitions as well. I do believe that this new system is better and more equitable as it favours teams who peak later in the season rather than the previous system when you could secure a spot to world’s even before Christ- mas. So, it is more important to bring your A-game later in the season so that you can peak at worlds. We keep asking everybody… should it be, will it be included in the Olympics some day? We do believe synchro should be an Olympic sport, it is very deserving of the title and there are enough countries to set up an intriguing competition at the Olympics. If synchro was an Olympic sport, it would gain more visibility and receive more funding which is crucial to evolve and improve the sport. We also believe that if synchro was an Olympic sport, some new countries might take an interest in the sport. For example, we can see China becoming a contender for one of the biggest synchro countries. Japan could become a big synchro country as well as other figure skating disciplines are very popular there. I hope to see synchro as an Olympic sport someday and to see the beautiful sport evolve! Well, it was just great talking to you girls. We wish you a great season and hope to see you at World’s again real soon. Good luck and have a wonderful season.  - AINO-KAISA AKKANEN - The journey up to this point has not been easy for sure SYNCHRO NICE 173