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Tanja KARI -
Finland
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| Four-time Paralympian and nine-time medalist
(eight gold, one silver) winning three gold in 1998 (Nagano), two gold
in 1994 (Lillehammer), two gold and one silver in 1992 (Albertville) and
one gold in 1988 (Innsbruck)...10-time World Championships medalist
(nine gold, one silver) winning three gold each in 1990, 1996 and
2000...Four-time gold medalist at the European Championships. |
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Going
out strong
Interviewer:
Tanja, nice to have you here today. You have been
really dominating the circuit for the last four
Paralympics and for several years before that. To what
do you attribute your success?
Tanja: Well, I started skiing as a child. I have
always loved snow and being outside, so thats a very
good start and actually I won my first games when I
was in the first class and that was very important for
me. I have always kept my mother very prominent in in
my life because she raised me and it was not always so
easy. So, when I started to ski more seriously, she
said that there is no reason not to compete with
able-bodied [athletes]. That has been quite an
important factor.
Interviewer: Who would you consider is your biggest
competition here at the games in Salt Lake?
Tanja: I think that Marjorie Van De Bunt is in very
good shape right now and actually the whole class is
quite young -- our class -- so I think that there may
be a big surprise coming, but I believe that I am very
tough as well. We have a good class. We will see after
the games!
Interviewer: Winning the gold medal yesterday; how did
that make you feel?
Tanja: I was very happy because this hasn't been a
very easy year for me. Every kind of thing has
happened and if I am telling the truth, sometimes I
was feeling a little bit unmotivated and I went up
there again after so many years and started to train
again. I was very motivated when I came here. I was
very happy and surprised that I did so well!
Interviewer: The altitude here at Soldier Hollow is
really high compared to a lot of other facilities
around the world. How has the altitude affected you
here?
Tanja: I'm quite ok with that right now. Before we
left Finland I was sleeping in a tent at my house for
about two weeks and the altitude was about 2000
meters. So I was well prepared.
Interviewer: What do you think of the Soldier Hollow
competition venue here. How does it rate against the
other facilities around the world?
Tanja: This [venue] has very great tracks; I think
these are good for all of us -- for all classes --
very good tracks! |
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Born: Ii, Finland
Residence: Ii, Finland
Nickname: "Hiivio"
Previous/Maiden Names: Tervonen
Education: Social sciences of sport
Occupation: Physical education instructor,
student
Sporting Relatives: Heidi POYKIO (figure
skater), Tuomas TERVONEN (Finnish baseball)
Languages: Finnish, Swedish, English
Start In Sport: "I love competing and
wonderful white snow -- is there anything else?!"
Club: Iin Hiihtoseura
Personal Coach: Arja NUOLIOJA
National Coach: Tuomas TORRONEN
Years On National Team: 10
Most Memorable Sporting Achievements: 1998
Nagano Games -- three gold medals
Hobbies: Music, telemark, canoeing
Most Influential Person: Mother
Most Admired Person: Mother
Nature/Cause Of Disability: From birth
Injuries: Knee operation and two ankle
ligament operations
Honors/Awards: Best disabled athlete in 1998 |
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