Latvia's Greatest National Asset: Jeļena Prokopčuka

Because I'm famous, people like me. Three times I've been voted as the best athlete in Latvia so it is easy for me to do promotional work.

And this is something I enjoy doing. The Riga marathon has really grown in the last couple of years. In 2008 we had 5,000 competitors.

People need activity, and running is the best and most simple activity there is. When you run you don't need a partner and facilities; you can do it anywhere and at any time. It is a great event.

Until recent years all of the citizens of Latvia were mostly interested in two things. Now they realize there is much more to life than just food and money.

I think that before New York people often didn't believe it was possible for a Latvian athlete to achieve, but my victories show that it is. Now everyone should realize they can achieve great things. The problem of course is that facilities and the number of good coaches here is very limited. Therefore, if you want to succeed you often need to do it all by yourself.

I am very fortunate to have the support of BMW dealer WESS Select. The Olympic Organisation supports athletes. But if you are taking time out, you get no income. When I said I wasn't going to the Beijing Olympics it meant I wouldn't get any support in 2008 (from the Olympic Organisation).

BMW respect the fact that I'm resting and they don't pressure me to start running again. It's not popular to support individual athletes, so I am very fortunate. It is also great that the same BMW dealer also supports the Riga Marathon. You need money to win competitions and, for me, it would otherwise be tough to train in Portugal for three and a half months each winter.

Right now, I'm full. Since May I have been taking time off. I've been running for 20 years without a real break and I'm tired.

But anyway, I am enjoying my break. Although, of course, I still have to do some training every day.

I'm not sure I would agree with that. But being famous means that people recognize you and wish you good luck. I receive a lot of kind words and energy. Sometimes I feel like some of the people love me, and that is a special feeling.

Justin Walley
This is Brayla Olsen from California paging Justin Walley over lost coffees in Newfoundland - I haaaddd to google you- I feel like a jerk for not asking you for your contact info, I should have =( because guess what I found!!???!!!- the old newfoundland fishing communities ! And guess where they are... St John's ! Walking distance & no, unfortunately I'm not kidding. All of those people asking if we had seen the Battery- were not talking about the hotel- they were talking about what was right below the hotel. It's very bad news, - for you- until I can potentially get a hold of you an show you documented proof that what we were looking for did exist! =) ! Hopefully you'll forgive me via free falafels. All is not lost.. aside from trash box envy, & an abundant source of funeral homes afterall! Maybe, if you eventually google yourself- you will find my message.. I googled " Justin Walley - Latvia - Editor " S ooooo if this isn't you- then you are one in a million and this is a terrible case of backpackers confusion.
- an estranged international friend

Dear Brayla,

this interview has been re-published from the Riga Airport Magazine called "Gateway Riga". If you need assistance contacting magazine's authors, we guess you should search in the airport and all the parallel ways.

Cheers!