First interview in Estonian Second Life Embassy

Virtual interview with Gerd Kanter and Vésteinn Hafsteinsson.

Distant Signals (moderator): Good morning! We have a really pleasant chance to welcome Gerd and Vesteinn here today. And I am also happy to congratulate you both on becoming the best sportsman and respectively best coach in Estonia for year 2007! First, before I start... we are physically located at the ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, which happens to be located on the Iceland Square 1 in Tallinn. Vesteinn, do you know why do we have a square named after Iceland, your homeland?

Vesteinn Dreamscape (Vésteinn Hafsteinsson): Yes I know it is because Iceland was the first country to recognise the reinstatement of your independence in 1991 and I am very proud of that

Distant Signals: We too! Well, may I ask you both, how do you feel after you got the news about becoming the best sportsman/trainer?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: I am very honored to be chosen the best coach of the year in Estonia for 2007 I did not expect that and it feels good

Gerd Mornington (Gerd Kanter): I was feeling good,because becoming best athlete of the year in Estonia has been also one of my dreams

Distant Signals: What do you think was the main reason for that?

Gerd Mornington: Our success in Osaka and also very good season in general.

Vesteinn Dreamscape: It is mainly because of Gerd becoming the World Champion and beating Virgilius Alekna after repeatedly getting the silver medal in 2005 and 2006.

Distant Signals: There has been some talk about Gerd training in a bit different way than the others, can you tell us something about the way you train?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: I build my training system on experience, common sense and science and in a way I think we are good on doing what is important for throwing the discus far, we do not use too many alternative methods but work often during the year... so that means in simple terms that we throw the discus all year around and maybe more than most competitors in general.

Distant Signals: Is there any innovation in this how you train or is it just common sense?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: Old methods in a modern way. You cannot train today as 30 years ago but we use old medhods that we know that work. Also I try to individualise to each athlete and because of that Gerd has his own plan that nobody else is using. Then when it comes to new things then we have a full time Fysio, Indrek Tustit that has done a great job

Distant Signals: How big is your team of coaches, consultants, etc?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: Team 75+ is a team of 8 people

Distant Signals: Ok, Gerd, what motivates you as a sportsman, why do you do what you do?

Gerd Mornington: I have always been very dedicated to become somebody. But at first it was to prove my dad that he can be proud of me.

Distant Signals: But why discus throwing? (I realise that this must have been asked from you quite often).

Gerd Mornington: At first I wanted to become basketball player, but I was not good enough. So my dad said that I should try some individual sport. So he sent me to the discus trainings.

Distant Signals: I will ask about the competition now. I have a Lithuanian friend, who was quite disappointed in Alekna's loss to you, and he said that it was just because Alekna was not in his best shape. And Gerd, you also said that you were a bit sorry that you won him in time when he was not at his best. So, what do you think, will you beat Alekna in the future, is the competition still on?

Gerd Mornington: Yes, competition is still on. I think Alekna is very motivated for next year to get his third olympic gold medal.

Vesteinn Dreamscape: People should not forget that Gerd has beaten Alekna in every meeting after the World Championships as well.

Distant Signals: Is Alekna your worst competitor or do you see some young angry guy breathing in your neck, someone who is not famous yet, but...?

Gerd Mornington: There are some young throwers who are coming,but for gold medal I see Alekna and me... Because to win we need to throw 70 m, youngsters can not do it at the moment.

Distant Signals: How important is psychology in discuss throwing?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: When it comes to throwing far when it counts... it is the most important thing in discus throwing. That can be trained in different ways and it will also come with experience as it has done with Gerd, he gets better every year but has still some things that he needs to be trained on.

Gerd Mornington: Very important, because we can see very often how young athletes fail in major meets.

Distant Signals: So, how do you prepare psychologically, besides trainings, do you have any certain routine for that?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: Gerd had problems in 2003 and 2004 with not throwing well at the Championships. I work through Mental Coaches and get professional help in that way. We have done some model training in the past - that means we train the pressure situation. We also changed the technique two years ago because of mental things as well. We talk about obstacles and try to agree on what to do in each situation

Distant Signals: I have an interesting question from the audience - what is the human limit in discus throwing, how far can you potentially throw it? Certainly it can never be 200 metres? Would 85 metres be human limit?

Gerd Mornington: I believe it is 77 metres.

Distant Signals: What do you think, will you throw 77 metres?

Gerd Mornington: Yes I believe that if I hit perfect technique with great wind I can do it.

Vesteinn Dreamscape: Nobody knows. There is a reason for the name of our team. It is called Team 75+ so that means Gerd can throw over 75m

Distant Signals: And what happens if someone throws 77? (Also a question from the audience).

Distant Signals: Have you done it unofficially? Thrown 75 plus at a countryside for example?

Gerd Mornington: If somebody does 77 then we just need to move the limits

Vesteinn Dreamscape: We have to believe that the limit is not 77m. In lots of areas I think we are in the beginning stage. There are many things that can be done better in discus training for the future generations, lot of people think that the upper limit is already close, but I do not think so.

Gerd Mornington: No, my trainig record is 71.40. But I know that Alekna has thrown over 76m.

Distant Signals: Ok, let us focus now a little bit on your Olympic preparations, what is the routine now?

Vesteinn Dreamscape: Olympic preparation is under control. All camps are decided and so is the training system. It will be adjusted regarding to situations in each period, but things look good and we are right now where we should be, technically, physically and mentally.

Distant Signals: Gerd, if there was one thing that you believe makes you really different and helps you become an olympic medalist, what could that be? (sorry if the question is too simplistic).

Gerd Mornington: My main difference from other competitors is that I am very close to the goal also I am very motivated since I do not have an Olympic Gold medal yet, Alekna already has two.

Vesteinn Dreamscape: In conclusion and related to this question then Gerd has this will to be the best and I think that will or mental capacity is going to take him the whole way. In combination with a very good physical talent and a great understanding on technical matters he can go far in China in 2008

Distant Signals: Ok, our time is almost up now, I am really happy to have had you here and besides, we are very thankful to you for being the FIRST ever official performers in this building! May your next year be a really great success and we all will watch the doings of Team75+ with great excitement. And once more -congratulations for your title for the best sportsman/coach tandem! Everyone can follow the news also at www.team75plus.com. Fingers crossed for the 16th and 19th of August!



Second Life pictures from todays press conference



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