Maikki Uotila

Maikki Uotila
Personal information
Alternative names Kraatz
Country represented Finland
Born (1977-02-25) 25 February 1977
Espoo, Finland
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Partner Toni Mattila, Michel Bigras
Coach Arja Wuorivirta, Martin Skotnicky
Choreographer Shanti Ruchpaul
Skating club HSK Helsinki
Retired c. 1998

Maikki Uotila-Kraatz (born 25 February 1977) is a Finnish ice dancer. With Toni Mattila, she is the 1997 Finnish national champion and competed in the final segment at the 1996 European Championships.

Personal life

Uotila was born on 25 February 1977 in Espoo, Finland.[1] She received a Bachelor of Arts in dance from Sarah Lawrence College in New York.[2] In 2004, she settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[3] She married Victor Kraatz on June 19, 2004. They have two sons – Oliver (born September 14, 2006) and Henry (born July 10, 2010).[4][5]

Career

Competitive

Uotila competed as a single skater until 1994, winning the junior silver medal at the 1992 Nordic Championships. In 1994, she switched to ice dancing, teaming up Toni Mattila. They competed in the free dance at the 1996 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, finishing 23rd. They also appeared at the 1996 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, but were eliminated after the compulsory dances.

After two silver medals, Uotila/Mattila won the Finnish national title in the 1996–1997 season. They placed 26th at the 1997 European Championships in Paris, France. They were coached by Arja Wuorivirta and Martin Skotnicky.[1] They ended their partnership in 1997 after three seasons together.

Uotila competed with Michel Bigras in the 1997–1998 season.

Post-competitive

Uotila coaches ice dancing at the BC Centre of Excellence.[6] She has also worked as a dance instructor at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby.[2][7]

Programs

(with Mattila)

Season Original dance Free dance
1996–1997
[1]

    Competitive highlights

    Ice dancing with Bigras

    National[8]
    Event 1997–98
    Finnish Championships1st

    Ice dancing with Mattila

    International[1]
    Event 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
    World Championships31st
    European Championships23rd26th
    Autumn Trophy 11th
    Baltic Cup1st
    Basler Cup12th
    Czech Skate14th
    Finlandia Trophy12th6th
    PFSA Trophy12th
    National[1]
    Finnish Championships2nd2nd1st

    Ladies' singles

    International[9]
    Event 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94
    PFSA Trophy15th
    Nordic Championships2nd J6th J6th J
    J = Junior level

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Maikki UOTILA / Toni MATTILA". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016.
    2. 1 2 "Dance Instructors". City of Burnaby. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017.
    3. ↑ Molson, Jon (March 23, 2009). "Former Olympian figure skater teaches Whitehorse clinic". Whitehorse Star. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017.
    4. ↑ "Victor and Maikki Kraatz welcome second son". skatetoday.com. 14 July 2010.
    5. ↑ Smith, Beverley (19 June 2015). "Kraatz honoured for his impact in Canadian Sport". Skate Canada.
    6. ↑ "Centre of Excellence Coaches". British Columbia / Yukon Section, SkateCanada. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007.
    7. ↑ "An Adult Figure Skating and A Synchronized Skating Seminar & Team Monitoring" (PDF). Skate Canada Saskatchewan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2017.
    8. ↑ "Maikki UOTILA / Michel BIGRAS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016.
    9. ↑ "Maikki UOTILA". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016.
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