Pekka Koskela
Encyclopedia
Pekka Koskela is a Finnish
speedskater
, specialising on the sprint distances 500-m and 1000-m. He is the former world record holder on the 1000-m with the time 1.07.00. In December 2001 he set a junior world record on the 500-m with the time 35.89. Since that time he has established himself as one of the 10–15 best speedskating sprinters in the world. He won a bronze medal on the 1000-m in the 2005 World Single Distance Championships
, and was number 10 in the 500-m of the 2006 Winter Olympics
. As of December 2006, he has won the 500-m three times and the 1000-m once in the Speed Skating World Cup
.
Koskela was one of the two dominating skaters at the 2007 World Sprint Championship
in Vikingskipet, Hamar
. He won both 500-metres, and set a rink record with 34.80, and was leading the proceedings up to the last distance, where he lost the world championship title to Lee Kyu-Hyuk
. Skating in the very last 1000-m pair, Koskela needed 1:09.03 to equal Lee, which by coincidence was the exact time Koskela achieved on the first day of the championships. Koskela was 0.14 seconds too late to become world champion, however.
Pekka Koskela represents a new generation of top international class Finnish speedskating sprinters, which started with achievements of Janne Hänninen
. These skaters include Mika Poutala
, Risto Rosendahl, Vesa Rosendahl, and Pekka's brother Pasi Koskela. Koskela has been training with his local Seinäjoki coach Aimo Klemetsö since boyhood. There is no indoor speed skating arena in Finland.
Near the end of the 2006–2007 season, Koskela lost his Finnish 500-m twice-achieved 34.80 record to Mika Poutala
, who skated 34.72 to Koskela's 34.86 in the World Cup Finale in Calgary 2–4 March. The following weekend, however, at the World Singe Distances Championships
in Salt Lake City, Koskela took the record back, skating 34.63 to Poutala's 34.65. Koskela was ranked #8 in the two times 500-m event, Poutala #10. At the same event, Koskela improved his other Finnish record on the 1000-m, and was ranked #6 with 1:08.04.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
speedskater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
, specialising on the sprint distances 500-m and 1000-m. He is the former world record holder on the 1000-m with the time 1.07.00. In December 2001 he set a junior world record on the 500-m with the time 35.89. Since that time he has established himself as one of the 10–15 best speedskating sprinters in the world. He won a bronze medal on the 1000-m in the 2005 World Single Distance Championships
World Single Distance Championships
The World Single Distance Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union.-History:Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances – four different distances for the allround...
, and was number 10 in the 500-m of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
. As of December 2006, he has won the 500-m three times and the 1000-m once in the Speed Skating World Cup
Speed Skating World Cup
The Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international speed skating competitions, organised yearly by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1985–86. Every year during the winter, a number of competitions on a number of different distances are held...
.
Koskela was one of the two dominating skaters at the 2007 World Sprint Championship
2007 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
The 2007 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships were held in Vikingskipet, Hamar on 20 January and 21 January 2007. They were the 36th World Championships, and it was the third time the Championships were held in Hamar...
in Vikingskipet, Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
. He won both 500-metres, and set a rink record with 34.80, and was leading the proceedings up to the last distance, where he lost the world championship title to Lee Kyu-Hyuk
Lee Kyu-Hyuk
Lee Kyou-Hyuk is a South Korean long track speed skater who specializes in the 500 and 1,000 meters...
. Skating in the very last 1000-m pair, Koskela needed 1:09.03 to equal Lee, which by coincidence was the exact time Koskela achieved on the first day of the championships. Koskela was 0.14 seconds too late to become world champion, however.
Pekka Koskela represents a new generation of top international class Finnish speedskating sprinters, which started with achievements of Janne Hänninen
Janne Hänninen
Janne Hänninen is a former Finnish speedskater who specialised on the shorter distances 500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m.His personal bests on these distances are 35.00 , 1:08.45 , and 1:46.04...
. These skaters include Mika Poutala
Mika Poutala
Mika Poutala is a Finnish speed skater who held a Finnish record in the sport. He finished 22nd at Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres. He has a business education and is set to represent Finland at the 2010 Winter Olympics.- References :...
, Risto Rosendahl, Vesa Rosendahl, and Pekka's brother Pasi Koskela. Koskela has been training with his local Seinäjoki coach Aimo Klemetsö since boyhood. There is no indoor speed skating arena in Finland.
Near the end of the 2006–2007 season, Koskela lost his Finnish 500-m twice-achieved 34.80 record to Mika Poutala
Mika Poutala
Mika Poutala is a Finnish speed skater who held a Finnish record in the sport. He finished 22nd at Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres. He has a business education and is set to represent Finland at the 2010 Winter Olympics.- References :...
, who skated 34.72 to Koskela's 34.86 in the World Cup Finale in Calgary 2–4 March. The following weekend, however, at the World Singe Distances Championships
World Single Distance Championships
The World Single Distance Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union.-History:Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances – four different distances for the allround...
in Salt Lake City, Koskela took the record back, skating 34.63 to Poutala's 34.65. Koskela was ranked #8 in the two times 500-m event, Poutala #10. At the same event, Koskela improved his other Finnish record on the 1000-m, and was ranked #6 with 1:08.04.