Estonia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics facts for kids
Estonia got ready to join the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This was a big moment for Estonia! They hadn't been to the Winter Paralympics since 2002. For 2018, they sent a small but mighty team of just one athlete. His name is Kardo Ploomipuu, and he competed in para-Nordic skiing. Kardo is a super talented athlete. He had already competed in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics for para-swimming. He even won a bronze medal in 2008!
Contents
Meet Team Estonia
This section introduces the amazing athlete who represented Estonia at the 2018 Games. He was the only member of "Team Estonia" for the Winter Paralympics that year.
| Name | Sport | Gender | Classification | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kardo Ploomipuu | para-Nordic skiing | male | LW4 |
Estonia's Paralympic Journey
Estonia has not competed in many Winter Paralympics over the years. Before 2018, the last time the country sent athletes to the Winter Paralympics was in 2002. In that year, the Estonian national sledge hockey team finished in sixth place.
Kardo Ploomipuu: From Swimming to Skiing
Kardo's Athletic Background
Kardo Ploomipuu is an athlete who competes in both para-Nordic skiing and para-swimming. The 2018 Games were not his first time at the Paralympics. He had already competed in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics as a swimmer. He even won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics! Kardo Ploomipuu is special because he is the first person from Estonia to compete in both the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
The Switch to Skiing
After finishing fourth in a swimming event at the London 2012 Paralympics, Kardo Ploomipuu started thinking about skiing. He began to take skiing more seriously, hoping to make it to the Winter Paralympics. Kardo chose Nordic skiing over alpine skiing because he has strong upper body muscles. He also really enjoyed the sport.
He got his first international classification for skiing in Finland in 2017. This classification, called LW4, helps make sure athletes compete fairly. After getting classified, Kardo got injured and couldn't compete for a while. Even with this setback, Estonia gave him a special spot, called a wild card, to compete in the 2018 Games.
