UNIT 20 Disability

Athletes

Tanja KARI - Finland

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.

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!

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

UNIT 20 DISABILITY
江苏省靖江高级中学
顾亚琴 张纯 制作