Mika Poutala Finnish speed skater Date of Birth: 20.06.1983 Country: Finland

1. Mika Poutala - Finnish Speed Skater
2. Early Career and World Championships
3. Olympic Achievements
4. Continued Success and Music Career
5. Outside of Speed Skating

Mika Poutala - Finnish Speed Skater

Mika Poutala is a Finnish speed skater who specializes in sprint distances, specifically the 500m and 1000m events. He has represented Finland at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

Early Career and World Championships

From 2000 to 2002, Poutala competed in the Junior World Championships, with his best result being a 13th place overall finish in 2002. He made his debut in the World Cup circuit in the 2002/2003 season. Poutala achieved silver medals in the 100m event at the World Cup in 2006 and 2008, and has also won several medals in the 500m and 1000m events at various World Cup stages.

Olympic Achievements

In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Poutala competed in the 500m and 1000m events, finishing in 22nd and 26th place respectively. He narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2009 World Championships, finishing in 4th place in the 500m event. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Poutala finished 8th in the 1000m event and had a strong chance of winning a medal in the 500m event. He won the first 500m race, but finished 11th in the second race, ultimately placing 5th overall.

Continued Success and Music Career

Poutala continued to perform well in subsequent competitions. In 2011, he finished 4th in the 500m event at the World Championships, and in 2016, he achieved a 3rd place finish in the 500m event at the World Cup Final in Heerenveen.

Outside of Speed Skating

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Poutala has a passion for music. He has recorded two rap albums under the pseudonym PlastiC. He is also a member of a Pentecostal church. Known for his unique greetings, Poutala occasionally entertains the crowd with small performances before races.