Mira Potkonen now rumbles in a trough instead of a ring – a former top boxer studying to be a coach wants to get people moving

On the morning of May, the Nokia detached house area seems to be a haven of peace. A happy couple flashes from the kitchen window of the corner house.

They come at the door Mira Potkonen and a one-year-old chihuahua Yodawhich seems to have enough power.

Potkonen, who has decided to pursue a successful boxing career at the Tokyo Olympics, seems relieved. Now is the time to plan and build a post-career life in peace.

The daily schedule of a top athlete on a tight schedule has changed to coaching and studying. At the moment, Potkonen is busy training for a personal coach.

The coaching work has become a new way for Potkonen to implement his own exercise.

– I try to get people moving through my own passion. In addition to individual coaching, I just started small group coaching, Potkonen says.

Potkonen has taken care of his own movement, for example, in a hockey pitch. The hobby of begging started in the sixth grade in Varkaus. However, hockey was interrupted when Potkonen’s family moved to Tampere.

– I really liked the puddle and the enthusiasm was burning, Potkonen says.

At the beginning of the millennium, an acquaintance from a fitness boxing team made Potkonen return to hockey. He first joined the Pirkkala Penguins team.

– I got in the way. At the time, my nickname was Laitakolina, because there were no brakes on my skates at all, Potkonen laughs.

Last fall, when Potkonen stopped boxing, he moved to Pimsa’s Pimu.

– Former hockey player Anne Haanpää attracted me. Our team has many former top hockey players and one former boxer.

– I want to continue to play, I go on the ice whenever it is possible for school and work.

Potkonen says that the transition to coaching has been natural for him. The strong desire to act as an inspiring example is outwardly visible. However, the transition from a competitive athlete to an entrepreneur in the sports industry requires a lot.

– Before, life was so much simpler. I only got to be an athlete with one goal and all the instructions came from the coach.

Now Potkonen must take responsibility for his own schedules while learning new things. The simple rhythm of training, rest, and food suited his character better.

– Studying is completely new to me and requires a whole new way of concentrating. On the school bench I have a hard time sitting in my seat. Fortunately, I have received permission from the teachers to walk or stretch during the lessons, Potkonen laughs.

At least the double boxing Olympic medalist has not yet missed top sports. Everyday life is more varied and you have time to see friends more often.

Women’s amateur boxing has developed tremendously in the world in recent years. According to Potkonen, it is important that the competition between boxers is fierce at an early age. He only started his career at the age of 28 in fitness boxing.

– Today, many juniors are already very tactical and technical boxers when they move to the women’s series, Potkonen points out.

In Finland, however, the national team is too small in Finland. The national competition situation is poor and there is no athlete mass.

– At the moment, there are no big domestic boxing camps either, but you always have to go abroad. During my own career, the situation was the same. We always went abroad, to the big masses to train and develop.

– I hope we individuals can be role models for those who love boxing.

The World Boxing Women’s Championships were held this year in Turkey. Finland was represented in the competition by the Tampere Strength Club Vilma Viitanen20, and Pihla Kaivo-ditch19.

The duo from the same club as Potkonen did well in the juniors and now debuted at the World Championship level. The skies of both were interrupted by stray noise losses in the first round.

Of the boxing rings, Potkonen is remembered for his strong will at the top. According to Potkonen, who was born in Heinävesi, a strong will has been present since he was a child, although it has waned a bit after his sports career.

– It may no longer be so strongly present after boxing. But still, if one is going to achieve something in life, one must have a strong will. Nothing in life comes for free, at least not for me.

Potkonen does not believe that he will be seen in top sports or competitive boxing in the future. At the forefront is a passion to move people into a future profession. However, boxing has given a lot of fins to this.

– We always try more and better, and surrender is never an option. There are always ways to get to your goal somewhere. Even if you go to a bigger pit sometimes, you immediately think about how to get up from there.

– My coach has played a big role in these matters. He has pushed me forward, encouraged and supported me, Potkonen says, referring to his long-term coach Maarit Teuros.

With the Tokyo Bronze Medal, Potkonen became the oldest Olympic medalist in boxing history. In Olympic-style boxing, the upper age limit for athletes is 40 years.

The Tokyo Olympics moved forward a year due to the corona pandemic, and Potkonen participated in the Games when he was over with an exception.

The Finn often replaced his technical shortcomings in the ring with willpower. He believes that the power of thought can work wonders.

– How you feel and receive the things you face and are able to handle them. One should not even give an alternative to failure, but immediately look for ways to move forward and turn things into victory.

“If you want something, be prepared to give up something”