Ripa nominated for Bragd Gold

Helene Ripa, who stunned her country by winning Sweden’s first gold medal at a Paralympic Winter Games in 20 years at Sochi 2014, has been nominated for the prestigious Bragd Gold award from newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

Ripa impressed on her Winter Games debut with victory in the women’s 15km cross-country classic standing and silver in the 4.2.5km mixed relay at the Laura Cross-Country and Biathlon Centre in March.

The 43-year-old made her international debut in 2012 into one of the most competitive women’s fields in para-Nordic skiing. Shortly afterwards, she burst onto the podium with her first world title, at home, at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Solleftea, Sweden.

It was her performance in Sochi however that grabbed the attention of the Swedish media and public, leading to nominations for the Jerring Prize and for Performance of the Year at the Swedish Sports Gala.

The Bragd Gold award is the icing on the cake for Ripa heading into the 2014-15 season, which kicks-off in Vuokatti, Finland, from 10-17 December, with an IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup.

The Swede will also be in action at the 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Cable, Wisconsin, USA, from 23 January-1 February, looking to retain her world title from 2013.

The other candidates for the Bradg Gold are cross-country skier Charlotte Kalla, swimmer Sarah Sjostrom and footballers Lotta Schelin and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.