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Pekka Koskela
* November 29, 1982 Mänttä
187 cm, 87 kg
Present residence: Helsinki
Club: Seinäjoen Urheilijat
Coach: Markku Koskela
Event: 500 m
Pekka Koskela made history on 10 November 2007 in Salt Lake City by becoming the first Finnish world record holder in speed skating in 35 years. His time of 1:07.00 in 1000 metres stayed in the record books until March 2009 and still remains the best ever result by a European skater. Pekka made his breakthrough in the 2004/05 season, winning his first World Cup race in 500 metres in Harbin and later World Championship bronze in 1000 metres in Inzell. His best result at World Sprint Championship is silver from the 2007 edition in Hamar. Pekka studies for a degree in material engineering at the Helsinki University of Technology. His elder brother Pasi is also a speed skater. Their second cousin is Harri Koskela, Olympic silver medallist in wrestling in Seoul 1988.
Previous Olympic Games:
2006 500 m 10th, 1000 m 31st.
Other achievements:
2000 WCh 500 m bronze.
2002 WSprintCh 34th.
2003 WCh 500 m 11th, 1000 m 16th. WSprintCh 20th.
2004 WCh 500 m 6th, 1000 m 10th. WSprintCh 12th.
2005 WCh 1000 m bronze, 500 m dnf. WSprintCh 12th.
2006 WSprintCh 7th.
2007 WCh 500 m 8th, 1000 m 6th. WSprintCh silver.
2008 WCh 500 m 24th, 1000 m 11th. WSprintCh dnf.
2009 WCh 500 m dnf, 1000 m 20th. WSprintCh 4th.
2010 WSprintCh dnf.
World Cup: 5 wins in Olympic distances (4 in 500 m, 1 in 1000 m).
Personal bests:
500 m: 34.50 (11 Nov 2007)
1000 m: 1:07.00 (10 Nov 2007)
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Tuomas Nieminen
* September 16, 1981 Vaasa
185 cm, 81 kg
Present residence: Seinäjoki
Club: Seinäjoen Urheilijat
Coaches: Toivo Kihlanki, Janne Hänninen
Events: 500 m, 1000 m
Tuomas Nieminen has been competing in the World Cup circuit since 2003. He has been a long-standing team-mate and training partner of Pekka and Pasi Koskela in their home town Seinäjoki. In December 2009 he made new personal bests in both 500 and 1000 metres in Salt Lake City, earning at the same time his first World Cup points of the season. Tuomas holds a sports instructor’s degree from Varala Sports Institute. His favourite summer pastimes are football, golf and cycling.
Achievements:
2006 WSprintCh 39th.
2008 WSprintCh 24th.
2010 WSprintCh 28th.
Personal bests:
500 m 35.21 (12 Dec 2009)
1000 m 1:09.53 (13 Dec 2009)
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Mika Poutala
* June 20, 1983 Helsinki
177 cm, 77 kg
Present residence: Helsinki
Club: Helsingin Työväen Luistelijat
Coaches: Toivo Kihlanki, Janne Hänninen
Events: 500 m, 1000 m
Mika Poutala enhanced his reputation as an emerging force in sprint skating by finishing fourth in 500 metres at the World Championship of 2009 in Richmond Olympic Oval, the venue of speed skating in Vancouver 2010. In the second race he posted the fastest time of all competitors. The Olympic season has also started well for Mika: in December he took his first World Cup victory in 500 metres as well as his first podium place in 1000 metres, and posted the fastest ever 500-metre time for a European skater, 34.31. Mika derives strength from his Christian faith. He also performs as gospel rap artist under the name Plastic and has written a theme song for the Finnish Olympic team.
Previous Olympic Games:
2006 500 m 22nd, 1000 m 26th.
Other achievements:
2004 WCh 500 m 17th, WSprintCh 18th.
2005 WCh 500 m 13th. WSprintCh 20th.
2006 WSprintCh 19th.
2007 WCh 500 m 10th, 1000 m 20th. WSprintCh 15th.
2008 WCh 500 m 7th, 1000 m 9th. WSprintCh 6th.
2009 WCh 500 m 4th, 1000 m 10th. WSprintCh 6th.
2010 WSprintCh 6th.
World Cup: 1 win in Olympic distances (500 m).
Personal bests:
500 m: 34.31 (11 Dec 2009)
1000 m: 1:07.24 (13 Dec 2009)
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Markus Puolakka
* May 6, 1985 Pieksämäki
180 cm, 65 kg
Present residence: Helsinki
Club: Helsingin Luistinkiitäjät
Coach: Esa Puolakka
Event: 500 m
Markus Puolakka will become an Olympic sprinter of second generation in Vancouver. His father and coach Esa Puolakka competed in 500 and 1000 metres in Lake Placid 1980. Markus made his debut in the World Cup in 2005. Unlike the other skaters in the Finnish team he specialises in 500 metres and the non-Olympic 100 metres. He made the Olympic qualifying standard in 500 metres with his new personal best of 35.18 in the World Cup event in Salt Lake City in December.
No previous major championship events.
Personal best:
500 m: 35.18 (12 Dec 2009)
