MARGUS KIIVER

Sports marketer and creator of emotions

A fan of sports, especially Estonian sports and athletes
Worked most of my life in media and sport-related fields
Father of a sports-minded son
MasterChef Estonia finalist

FAVORITE SPORTS

Running - my way to both empty and recharge myself
Gym - the foundation of everything, muscles keep us standing, right?
Hiking - like running, but longer and with the chance to cook along the way
Cycling - currently only with a city cruiser, but it’s something that has been with me for a long time
Always open to discovering new sports. Even if only once!

GREATEST SPORTS EXPERIENCES

Rahva Hääl public runs as a little boy
Exercising together with my son
First marathon
Early morning runs with magnificent sunrises
The Olympic Games on site - it’s hard to find a more inspiring environment

JOURNEY OF MARGUS

Sports and exercise have always been a part of my life in one way or another. Whether I've done it myself, reflected it, or even led it. My own athleticism has fluctuated throughout my life, for the last five or six years it's been an everyday part of my life and it's something I'm proud of. And that's what gives me the right to preach my faith to others like a priest. I can share a lot of positive experiences that sports have given me, starting with the feeling of self-worth, new ideas, and ending with the awesome people we walk this path with!

At least one hour for myself every day, that's my mantra.

When push came to shove - how sport and movement found their way back into Margus’ everyday life.

I started different types of training quite early, if I remember correctly, already in first grade. That was in addition to the yard sports that were considered essential among the apartment blocks. I began with sailing, then moved on to track and field, tried a bit of basketball and karting, and eventually cycling. At my best, I ranked among the top 10 in Estonia for my age group. Although I quit for various reasons, luckily sport remained an important part of my life in high school — at Tallinn Secondary School no. 54, there was simply no other way.

Every rise is followed by a fall. Between the ages of 20 and 40, sport played only a sporadic role in my life and the same could be said about nutrition. I would run from time to time, knock around a volleyball, but not much more. My cheeks grew fuller and my waistline expanded like yeast dough in warm temperatures. And yes, my blood pressure and cholesterol also climbed, like Bitcoin on its best days. The breaking point came in March 2018, when I ended up in the hospital with a heart attack. I was lucky to make it through and got a second chance.

Running became my thing. At first, it was cautious walks that gradually turned into equally cautious runs. At some point, I realized my pants size had dropped five numbers from those so-called “best days.” Little by little, I added gym workouts as well. Losing weight gave a real boost to my confidence. On the running track, I felt how my mind opened up and ideas started to flow. I can confirm 100% that if you move for at least an hour every day, you’ll be more productive in what you do and better able to handle and withstand stress.

I try not to focus on results when it comes to sport. I do it for myself and because of myself. I believe everyone can set their own goals and through their actions inspire and support others. That’s why, in sports and movement, it’s so important to do it together with a team and to support one another. A parent can say to their child, “Let’s go for a run,” instead of “Go for a run.” A sports ambassador in a workplace or community can do the same - “Let’s go and do it together." My guarantee is that afterwards, you’ll be better persons because of it.

I keep exploring and, truth be told, every now and then also testing my limits. I’ve had a taste of a half marathon and I know exactly how those gels taste in the last third of a marathon (spoiler: not good at all). Lately, I’ve started to enjoy running more in company, and on early mornings I’ve experienced visual emotions through running that even the best cameras couldn’t capture vividly enough. Whenever I feel routine creeping in, I go and look for new trails or try a different sport. When I travel, my running shoes are always with me, giving me the chance to discover places in a completely different way.

For me, sport isn’t just sweat and tears - it’s fun, emotions, and energy. If there’s no joy in it, then I’m not playing!