Finland sending 13 athletes to Sochi 2014

At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics, Finland finished 17th on the medals standings with one silver and one bronze.

The Finnish Paralympic Committee has revealed the 13 athletes that will represent the country at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games from 7-16 March.

Their team includes veteran Nordic skier Maija Jarvela, whose silver medal in biathlon at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics was Finland’s first winter Paralympic medal since 2002. Jarvela is entering her third Paralympics expecting to medal in the women’s 12.5km individual standing biathlon event.

Matti Suur-Hamari could be a surprise in the snowboard competition for Finland, as he is coming off a top finish at the IPCAS Snowboard World Cup Finals in La Molina, Spain, where he won the final race against the USA’s Evan Strong and Mike Shea.

Finland’s wheelchair curling team – hosts of the 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships – will be making their Paralympic debut.

Finland, strongest in Nordic skiing, have won 182 medals at the Paralympic Winter Games, including 76 golds. Only four countries have won more medals, and Finland need just one more gold to reach 150 golds at the Winter and Summer Paralympics combined.

At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics, Finland finished 17th on the medals standings with one silver and one bronze.

Finland’s full team for Sochi 2014 includes:

Alpine skiing

Katja Saarinen

Nordic skiing

Juha Harkonen

Maija Jarvela

Lasse Kankkunen

Rudolf Klemetti

Timo Salminen (guide)

Ilkka Tuomisto

Sini Pyy

Snowboard

Matti Suur-Hamari

Wheelchair curling

Tuomo Aarnikka

Vesa Hellman

Markku Karjalainen

Sari Karjalainen

Mina Mojtahedi