Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
S13, SB13, SM13
Further personal information
Languages
Finnish, German, Swedish, English
Higher education
Sports Management - Lapland University of Applied Sciences: Rovaniemi, FIN
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began swimming at age 10.
Why this sport?
Swimming challenged him and he loved the feeling of freedom he got from being in the water.
Club / Team
SC Rovaniemi: Finland
Name of coach
Gerd Buttner [personal], FIN, from 2016
International debut
Year
2008
Competing for
Finland
Tournament
Paralympic Games
Location
Beijing, CHN
General interest
Hobbies
Listening to music, playing with a Rubik's cube. (Athlete, 13 Aug 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement
Finishing sixth in the S13 100m backstroke at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (Athlete, 08 Dec 2017)
Most influential person in career
Coach Helen Ovaska. (Athlete, 13 Aug 2018)
Hero / Idol
Finnish Para judoka Jani Kallunki. (Athlete, 13 Aug 2018)
Injuries
He injured his right shoulder and suffered from a head injury in 2009. (Athlete, 26 Aug 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Love what you do but hate the moment when you lose." (Athlete, 08 Dec 2017)
Awards and honours
He was named the 2016 Para Swimmer of the Year by the Finnish Sports Association for People with Impairments [VAU]. (yle.fi, 18 Jan 2017)
He was named the 2012 Swimmer of the Year by the Finnish Swimming Association. (lansivayla.fi, 27 Dec 2012)
He was named the 2012 Swimmer of the Year by the Finnish Swimming Association. (lansivayla.fi, 27 Dec 2012)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (lapinurheiluakatemia.fi, 27 Feb 2017)
Other information
RETIREMENT PLANS
He plans to retire from swimming after the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and wants to turn to coaching. He already has coaching experience working with young swimmers in Rovaniemi, Finland. "As a coach, I have to give the athletes responsibility, because I don't see underwater, for example, what's going on there. I'll tell you what to do and how it should feel. As a swimmer, I know power well, how something should feel, and I urge them to investigate it by giving them responsibility." (santasport.fi, 19 Feb 2021)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied physical education at the Lapland Sports Institute in Rovaniemi, Finland. (lapinurheiluakatemia.fi, 27 Feb 2017)
He plans to retire from swimming after the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and wants to turn to coaching. He already has coaching experience working with young swimmers in Rovaniemi, Finland. "As a coach, I have to give the athletes responsibility, because I don't see underwater, for example, what's going on there. I'll tell you what to do and how it should feel. As a swimmer, I know power well, how something should feel, and I urge them to investigate it by giving them responsibility." (santasport.fi, 19 Feb 2021)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied physical education at the Lapland Sports Institute in Rovaniemi, Finland. (lapinurheiluakatemia.fi, 27 Feb 2017)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Heat 1 | 5 | ||
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Final Round | 7 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 1 | 6 | ||
Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM13 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
Men's 100 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 3 | 5 | ||
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Final Round | 6 | ||
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Heat 2 | 4 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Final Round | 2012-09-03 | 8 | |
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-03 | 3 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 50 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 2 | 2015-07-13 | 12 | |
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Final 1 | 2015-07-15 | 6 | |
Men's 100 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-18 | 9999 | |
Men's 100 m Butterfly S13 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-19 | 9999 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m Butterfly S13 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-08 | 5 | |
Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM13 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-10 | 4 | |
Men's 50 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-14 | 5 | |
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 6 | |
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-17 | 3 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Final 1 | 2017-12-02 | 2 | |
Men's 100 m Butterfly S13 | Final 1 | 2017-12-04 | 9999 | |
Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM13 | Heat 2 | 2017-12-06 | 2 | |
Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM13 | Final 1 | 2017-12-06 | 4 |