Why does this matter?
She agreed to an interview with me to be published on an Ezine about Long Island. With no word the publication went another direction. So I wanted to share the Maria Michta I meet during our interview.
We had been communicating back and forth via Facebook. And finally nailed down a date to talk. On the scheduled day I dial her number and my heart starts thumping so loud I wonder if I will even be able to ask any questions and be heard over the buffeting of my organic harmonium. She answers and I can tell all note taking is out the window.
She talks fast and serious. I am impressed immediately. This is not someone I would ever be able to keep up with in life or even on a phone call, but I have to try and at least fake it over the phone.
I attempt to follow through with the list of questions I developed, but beyond the nervousness mostly what runs through my mind is a childlike glee, “I am talking to an American Olympian." Not too long ago though she was known simply is a Long Island Athlete. Her sport; Race Walking, a 20 kilometer endurance event in which one foot must appear to be in constant contact with ground on each step.
There are judges and red cards are given to violators if both feet leave the ground. Three cards means disqualification.
The Cadence rates of these races are comparable Olympic 400 meter dash runners or about 45 seconds to round a track once.
With the Olympian on the phone and willing to answer my every question my first query was obvious, “How did you get into race walking?”
“The School district,” she begins, her voice has no accent, an educated tone, “the school district allowed student athletes to pick an event and get good at it. I tried other events but Race-walking was something that just felt natural, maybe not at first but eventually, than I started winning races and now…”
“You are an Olympian who competed at the summer games in London. Does it ever hit you, like suddenly, while brushing your teeth; I am a world class athlete?”
She laughs, “It’s crazy, I never see myself like that, in London I competed the last day before the closing ceremony, I had a lot of time to walk around and explore, not London more the games it’s an experience I will never forget, but don’t know about being a world class athlete I am more a scholar.”
“Let’s play word association I am going to give you three names and a color and you tell me what you think, okay?
“Okay,” She sounds dubious.
“Ivanova ,Gold, Lashmonova, Silver, Sokolova, bronze.”
“Athletes with amazing achievements.”
“Yet your personal best in London was only eight minutes behind them, can we expect you in Red White and Blue come 2016 in Rio?
“I am so busy now that I can hardly think that far out in the future.”
“At the 2012 Olympics, you finished in 29th place with a personal best time of 1:32:27, do you feel there is more left in you?”
“All races are a time commitment. With my work on this PhD program is not even close to being done, I can’t even be certain any employer down the road will even give me the time off to compete in the races needed to even qualify.”
“To shift gears slightly how did you find yourself in sports, what do you think made you the athlete you are?
“Education and reading. There is a science behind sport, around how the body performs. I researched it and learned as much as I could. I found it interesting and decided to try out a few hypotheses”
“I read you are a PhD candidate at the Mount Sinai Medical School. “I am.”
“Which field is your research in?”
“Biomedical science, more specifically Virus’ and the effects on the liver.”
“That’s interesting, but I would have thought with all your research in sports medicine that would have been a more obvious pursuit?”
“I dug too deep for sports medicine. I enjoyed seeing what makes the bodywork.
Internally the body has many functions, and those functions affect everything, affect those functions that make an athlete an athlete. One product grow in another and the product, a different product is produced. I found I wanted to explore the bodies function in minutia.”
“Given what you have learned yourself about sporty, If you could, what would you give back to the students of long island?”
“I would want to provide an interest in science and research, not many students realize that the full potential for education and, dreams really come from thinking and asking questions.”
“Is your family athletic?”
“My Sister, Christy, is a high jumper, Katie does long distance she is building up to the 12 mile event. My brother is not.”
“Will we see either of you sisters in a future Olympic games?”
“It is possible they are both very gifted.”
“So this interview will be published in Long Island Based, I need to know in Nesconset Where is you favorite place to eat?”
“My mom’s house. She makes the best chicken cutlets and mashed potatoes, My finances Mom’s red sauce is also one of the reasons I like to go back home, oh and his grandmothers Meatballs!”
“Where are you parents from?”
“Born and raised in New York.”
“Last time you had a drink?”
She laughs, “When I hang out I am the completely sober one. I never drink. In fact last drink I had was a sip of champagne on January 1st to ring in the New Year. After that it was back to gator aide.
“Maria this was such a thrill chatting it was truly amazing. Thank you.
“You are welcome.”
To help Maria compete in Rio and get the 2016 funding needed please visit her Facebook fan page, Like her, because she is amazing and then send a message asking for details on how to donate.
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