LIMBC 2013 women’s open runners-up Maja Wloszczowska speaks to www.limbcmalaysia.com on Langkawi, the worlds and the Olympics | LIMBC Malaysia 2015

LIMBC: Had it not been MTB, which sport would you have opted to make a career out of it?

Maja: Cross country skiing or biathlon, I’m not the best in it but I do cross country skiing for my winter training and really love it!

LIMB: A silver medallist in the Olympic Games in 2008. A world champion in 2010. It must have been very exciting period at that time?

Maja: All the time on my bike is exciting. Since 2003, more or less each year I’ve won medals at the Worlds or European races. Surely Beijing was special, but also World Champs in Champery in 2011 where I flatted and still got silver and last year - first in Giant with silver at the Worlds in Pietermaritzburg.

LIMBC: Describe your feelings in Beijing 2008, after grabbing the silver at Laoshan.

Maja: Wow… not possible. I was concentrated just on racing throughout the race. When I crossed the finish line, suddenly I realized that I achieved something other athletes dream about. A simple girl from Jelenia Gora, Poland, winning a medal in the Olympics! It felt unreal. I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited that it took me couple of hours until it sunk in and I started to think rationally.

LIMBC: Describe your feelings after winning the world title in 2010.

Maja: That was a great reward for my bad luck in 2009, when I crashed just two days before the start in Canberra and couldn’t compete. I was in great shape that time. I’ve tried to explain myself why it happened. The only answer was that I was not ready to become the World Champion. I was extremely motivated for the following year. So you can imagine how happy I was that all that motivation brought me to the rainbow jersey. To be the best in the World. Amazing.

LIMBC: Describe LIMBC in three words.

Maja: Adventure, survival, challenging.

LIMBC: Describe Langkawi in three words.

Maja: Nature, beauty, heat

LIMBC: You have a Masters in Mathematical Finance. Tell us what is Maths finance.

Maja: The greater part of the studies is based on statistics and probability. You can not imagine in how many different areas of life and science you can use them! We were concentrated mostly on insurances and financials, for example risk assessment of investment, valuation of financial instruments and calculation of insurance premiums. Most of my colleagues are working now in banks, insurance companies and based in headquarters of big companies (the ones that are on the stock market).

LIMBC: What was your first impression of Langkawi when you first stepped on its shores?

Maja: Honestly…? Where is the air to breathe!? But fortunately you can get used to it quickly. I arrived one hour before the start of the prologue so there was no time to look around. First local pleasure after the race was nice spicy food and friendly people.

LIMBC: Immediate target?

Maja: World Cups and World Championships.

LIMBC: How do you occupy your time outside MTB?

Maja: Running my web services, organizing XCO event in my hometown, writing a book. Taking care of food which I eat and spending time with family & friends.

LIMBC: Jelenia Gora trophy. An event that has your name in it. Why?

Maja: Because I’m co-organizer of that event together with city Jelenia Gora and main organizer - LangTeam, the company which organizes Pro Tour race - Tour of Poland. Jelenia Gora is my hometown, nestled in the centre of beautiful mountains. Perfect place for MTB. We decided to use my popularity to promote cycling and the city. I think it works quite good.

LIMBC: You co-own Quest, sports clothing company. How big is it?

Maja: It’s my mum who is running the whole business. And it’s BIG! I really admire her. In Quest we employ 100 people and we produce clothing for the whole of Europe, Canada and USA. And objectively I can say that our clothing is really great!

LIMBC: Favourite drink?

Maja: Coffee

LIMBC: Favourite meal?

Maja: ice cream

LIMBC: Tips for MTB enthusiasts?

Maja: Have fun while riding, go off-road, search for nice single tracks, but first take care of your bike - adjust size and position, check tyre pressure, take spare tube with you and mandatory - helmet!!!

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