Czech runner Mäki wishes her native country: I’m rooting for the Finns today!

Mäki has Czech citizenship through her mother and Finnish citizenship through her father. While he represents the Czech Republic in athletics, he trains for Scandinavian athletes at international events. “I always wish them well at the Olympics and the Hockey World Cup. Nothing changes, even when it’s played in Prague,” smiles the runner who is at the peak of her preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris: “I probably won’t see the match directly in the O2 arena, there’s not much time,” Mäki explained.

It’s going to be intense

Although Mäki lives in the Czech Republic, she still holds the 2000-meter track record in Finland from 2014. Now she only represents the Czech Republic, but she still travels to northern Europe, speaks the local language, and her son even has the Scandinavian name Kaapo (3). It will be busy at home during today’s hockey game (20:20, broadcast by ČT sport). Her husband is the Czech runner Filip Sasínek (28), who will definitely not be on the same fan note. Mäki’s parents will also come to Prague! “It’s going to be intense. Dad is a fan of Finland, and mom has the same role as me, Filip, of cheering for the opposite side.” she describes the family goulash of the runner with a laugh.

In even better shape

Unlike his wife, Sasínek will not go to the Olympics. “Filip mainly helps me at home, we have no training in common,” revealed the athlete. Mäki is the Czech record holder on the 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 meter tracks. At the last games in Tokyo, she broke the Czech record for 1,500 meters with a time of 4:01.23. At the time, she was just eight months after giving birth to Kaapa. “I feel a little better now, but in athletics it always depends on the current form,” Mäki is looking forward to his second career Olympics.