We had the good fortune of connecting with Michal Brezina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michal, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
As a professional figure skater, and one of the oldest in the field at the time. I wanted the younger generation to know that I still had a lot left to give, and that age was just a number. I want to be remembered as someone who always gave my all, and enjoyed every minute of the sport I gave my all to.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being a coach now in Great Park, taking on new students, I believe the strongest thing within an athlete is their belief in themselves. I was the oldest man in the field at the Beijing Winter Olympics. This was my 4th Olympic Games, and just as exciting as the first.
Each came with different challenges.
The journey to attaining big dreams is never an easy task.
I’ve learned that you’ll run into many people with many opinions and you just have to take what you need from each person, and keep believing. If you don’t have Faith in yourself, no one else will.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Irvine, We’d of course start at the great park ice rink and see all the awesome skaters we competed with.
We’d go to lido and eat at Malibu farms and Nobu. We’d hang out at the spectrum and go to big bear on weekends. Maybe take a drive up to Santa Barbara on the PcH

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to thank my parents and my father for continuously pushing me and believing me in. All my coaches who have helped me at different parts in my journey. All my physical therapists and trainers who helped keep me strong and healthy.
My wife and kids who (while near the end of my career) kept me motivated and level headed.

Instagram: Teamplusfive

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