Apeldoorn, June 30, 2005
Svetlana Kaykan – August 6, 1978 – Cheljabinsk, Russia
Speed, that is what it is all about for sprinter Svetlana Kaykan. Speed on the ice, but on the road as well. Recently she was stopped by the Russian police, because she passed them with almost 200 km/hour. Even in an old Lada, but one with some speedy spoilers of course. ‘Waist of money', she says in pretty good English. ‘I think it would be more smart if I express my search for speed only on the ice from now on.'
Svetlana Kaykan was six years old when she started figure skating, in Cheljabinsk, about 2000 kilometers to the east from Moscow in the southern Ural. It did not become a big success, because she crashed into the boarding many times. On the ice, Svetlana was faster then necessary for a starting figure skater. That she turned into speed skating on the age of twelve, was therefore not a big surprise.
The speed that she can show on the ice, is for the biggest part not coming from her technique, but from her powerful body. Her model figure does not suspect that she can arouse such big power explosions. Svetlana is not an athlete with voluminous muscles, but with muscles made of steel. She is a natural sprinter, one of the fastest women on the 100 meter. Until 300 meter alsmost nobody in international speed skating is faster then her. But since the shortest distance counts 500 meter, Kaykan has a problem.
‘I don't have enough capacity to maintain my speed in the last 200 meter. The 1000 meter is even a bigger disaster. After 600 meter I start thinking. “Oh my god, I am so tired! How do I continue?” Those kind of negative thoughts always arise during my race and I can not get them out. My speed drops and I can not take it up again. Terrible.'
This year (2004-2005), Kaykan was eleventh on the 500 meter during the World Championships Single Distance. That is far from a podium spot, what she wishes to reach. Is she able to react the world top? ‘Definitely', she says, ‘I have the speed and the power to become an Olympic champion. I only need to make sure that my technique stays well after 300 meter. And not to get in stress during a race.'
While most skaters are nervous before they have to race, Kaykan gets stressed during her race. ‘I would rather have it the other way around, but before a race I am really calm. As soon as the starting gun has fired, I panic. I forget what my coach told me and I just start skating without a plan. When I cross the finish line, I think: “What did I do?” That is why I ofter put my hands before my eyes after a race, in stead of putting them in the air.'
Psychological support, that is what Kaykan needs. It is offered to her and she accepts it. ‘I know my weak spot and I really want to work on that. It is a all about concetration. I need to learn how to focus.' She really benefits from the approach of trainer Geert Kuiper. He knows how to stimulate her, to get her to do mental excercises. ‘I feel that I am improving. I feel that I am ready to quit this problem. Even this year. My results on the ice will hopefully show. Olympic champion on the 500 meter? Everything is possible.'
Kaykan want to continue speed skating four more years, until the Olympics in Vancouver, in 2010. After that, she wants a job in the sport that has become her way of life. ‘Maybe I can become the manager of the ice rink in Cheljabinsk. I will see what happens.'
For sure she will keep on speed skating after she quit her career. ‘Because of the great feeling to speed up on the ice.' And she also will keep on training, especially power training. ‘I am addicted to the pleasure of tiring your body. To feel your body while pulling the weights. Being tired after a training is a great feeling. Power training is not working hard, it is having fun. And training on a high level gives me a lot of satisfaction. The pain I feel is pleasant.' One more time in Dutch: ‘Pijn is fijn.'
