- Introduce yourself briefly
I think it runs in the bloodline of my family that we all look younger and seem to act a bit older than our actual age. Anyways, I’m a 26-year-old young man from Haanjamaa upland between the primeval valleys of Rõuge. It’s my first time being a student in an university. As my classmate liked to say, we have graduated from the highest of schools in Estonia, Haanja school – the highest from the sea level. I lived in Norway for two years and I was an athlete up until last spring when I decided to quit.
2. Three facts about you
- I have never been to kindergarden
- I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters
- I competed in the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
- I have flown 140 metres on skis
3. How did you end up in EBS?
Because I’m not in my first youth anymore, it felt like I didn’t have any more time for experiments so I had to put it “all in” and pick EBS. Actually there was a sports field in mind but because I already have knowledge and contacts in the field I was more attracted to something different so I went back to my roots. When I was little, my dad used to call me businessman Nossov from time to time. (laughing) BUUM radio show also had an impact on me when choosing the right school.
4. You have competed in Nordic combined. Tell us about that. What it is? How did you discover it? What is the most fascinating thing about it?
I found Nordic combined (ski jumping + cross-country skiing) because I followed the footsteps of my older brothers. A man has always dreamed of flying.
Looking back, I’m extremely happy of the way that the sport has raised and formed me and my body: fast, explosive, skilled, strong, durable, elastic, and well a heavy person can’t be up in the air for a long time.
5. You have participated in different competitions. Which one is the most memorable to you?
The Olympics is something remarkable, but at the same time it was pretty awesome to come to the stadium after Petter Northug had won, the buzz there was powerful. Or when in France, Chaux-Neuve, the audience was already there 2 hours before the competition had even started. But the most memorable is probably winning a medal at the Junior Championships, based on the fact that it was my goal then and I was bold enough to say that out loud before the competitions.
6. What has sports taught you?
Sports is a lifestyle, nothing comes without effort. You get as much as you put in. Your results are not directly affected by the fact whether you work out at 8 or 9 in the morning but whether or not you are committed to work for 24 hours. But at the same time the playfulness and fun is still preserved even with the immense workload. To those who say they have no time for sports, I suggest taking a nap like athletes and you get two days out of one day.
I wasn’t an athlete whose job was just to work out and train. Also I had to find my own sponsors which was quite challenging and interesting.
7. What do you do on your spare time?
Work and school take up most of my time but I still enjoy sports. Snowboarding, downhill skiing, beach volleyball, tennis – mainly everything one could do with their friends.
Coming from a musical family, I enjoy everything from folk to hip-hop and if I was more skilled, I’d practice more guitar and piano.
I’m a hopeless romantic. I like everything that associates with candles and also yoga and meditation. Therefore, a relaxing sauna at the end of the day is very important.
8. If you had a chance to drop all of your responsibilities instantly. What would you do right away?
Have kids. It would be fun to be a young parent. I’d like to be a cool dad who runs around with the kids not an old dad who just watches them having fun.
9. If you had a chance to be any fictional character, who would you be and why?
You have to earn money even in your sleep, so I’d like to be a musician whose music speaks to people at all times. Also, there is a kind of an ego inside all of us all and music has the ability to change one’s mood instantly.
10. A quote you live by?
Quotes are really affecting, but I have to admit that I have never had a certain motto. I like to think of a situation where there would not be any people but me in the world, and how long would it be interesting to live in that situation. Maybe a few weeks. So I think that we also live for other people too, in some way.
Editor: Tea Teesalu
Translator: Marlen Kuusk