Sports
| Mar 10, 2022

Kiiveri wins Finland’s first ever Paralympic Alpine Skiing gold

/ Our Today

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Finland made history by winning their first-ever Paralympic Alpine Skiing gold medal courtesy of Santeri Kiiveri on the fourth day of competition (10 March) at the Yangqing National Alpine Skiing Centre.

The 21-year-old, who days before had secured silver in the men’s super combined standing, ended first in the giant slalom with a time of 1:55.40.

“The giant slalom has all the time been really good for me but I haven’t been able to do good runs in the races and now everything came together,” he said.

“It’s been a great job for me. After the first medal I decided that now I would just enjoy and go full gas and that paid off.”

Santeri Kiiveri in action. (Photo: Reuters)

Kiiveri admitted not being nervous before this event because he already had “one medal, that was my goal here. I was focusing on another good run and that’s it”.

He also hopes his achievements can promote Para Alpine Skiing in Finland further.

“Of course I hope it means a lot and we will find more skiers in the future. We have a really small team, only me and a sit skier (Maiju Laurila).

“I hope that (his gold medal) has encouraged some young disabled skiers to start skiing.”

USA’s Thomas Walsh (1:55.44) and France’s Arthur Bauchet (1:55.89) completed the podium.

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