Finland: 11 facts for the Sochi 2014 Paralympics

There’s no doubt that cross-country skiing is Finland’s strongest sport, but will they get a look-in against Russia’s greatest team? 13 Feb 2014
Imagen
lka Tuomisto

lka Tuomisto of Finland competes in the Men's 1km Standing Cross-Country Sprint Semi Final at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

ⒸGetty Images

 

• Finland have won 182 medals at the Paralympic Winter Games, including 76 gold medals. Only four NPCs have won more gold and more totals medals.

 

• Finland need one more gold medal to reach 150 gold medals at the Paralympic Winter Games (76) and Paralympic Games (73) combined.

 

• They have won 161 medals (64 gold, 45 silver and 52 bronze) in cross-country skiing, 88.5 per cent of their total of 182 medals. They also won nine gold medals in ice sledge speed racing (which is no longer a Paralympic sport) and three gold in biathlon.

 

• These 161 medals are the most for any NPC in cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games.

 

• Only Norway (77) have won more gold medals in cross-country skiing than Finland's 64.

 

• Finland won their last gold medal at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2002 when Tanja Kari won three gold medals and Jaana Argillander won one; both in cross-country skiing.

 

• Finland's most recent medals came in 2010, when Maija Jarvela took silver in the women’s 3km biathlon pursuit standing and Ilkka Tuomisto finished third in the men’s 1km cross-country skiing sprint classic style standing.

 

• Jouko Grip has won 10 gold medals and 15 in total in cross-country skiing and biathlon , the most out of all Finnish athletes at the Paralympic Winter Games.

• Grip was inducted into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2006 for his achievements.

 

• Finland's men have won 43 gold medals, 10 more than women, but the men have not won gold since 1998. Finland's women have won four gold medals since 1998.

 

• You can follow the Finnish Paralympic team on Facebook and @FinnParalympic on Twitter

 

Athletes:

 

Alpine skiing

 

Katja SAARINEN, Twitter: @SaarinenFIN

 

Snowboard

 

Matti SUUR-HAMARI, Twitter: @MattiSuurHamari, Facebook

 

Nordic skiing

 

Juha HARKONEN

 

Maija JARVELA

 

Lasse KANKKUNEN, Twitter: @Late_K

 

Rudolf KLEMETTI

 

Sini PYY, Twitter: @Sipressi

 

Ilkka TUOMISTO, Twitter: @IlkkaTuomisto, Facebook

 

Wheelchair curling

 

Tuomo AARNIKKA

 

Vesa HELLMAN

 

Markku KARJALAINEN, Twitter: @tulikoni

 

Sari KARJALAINEN, Twitter: @irwin_sari

 

Mina MOJTAHEDI