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• 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