Erkki Miinala (born 19 August 1986 in Kemi) is a Finnish goalball player. He began playing at age ten, but did not become serious about the sport until 19. His visual impairment is due to retinitis pigmentosa which is an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment. Outside goalball he plays drums in a rock band and works as a transcriber. [1] He was a member of Finland's gold medal-winning men's goalball team at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. [2]
Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. Australia commenced its involvement in the sport in 1980. Its women's team has completed in trans-Tasman competitions, the IBSA World Goalball Championships, and the Paralympic Games.
Miloš Grlica is a Paralympic retired athlete from Serbia competing mainly in category F12 javelinand pentathlon events.
The men's tournament in goalball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics was contested from 30 August to 7 September. 38 matches were played; 30 in the group play, 4 quarter-finals, 2 semi-finals, a bronze medal match, and a gold medal match.
Hüseyin Alkan is a Turkish national goalball player of class B1 and Paralympian.
Masae Komiya is a Japanese goalball player with a congenital visual impairment. She was part of the bronze medal-winning Japanese women's team at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. At the 2012 Summer Paralympics she captained the gold medal-winning Japanese women's team. After the game she stated "The day [we waited for] finally came. I was so overcome with emotion that I couldn't finish singing the 'Kimigayo' national anthem."
The women's tournament in goalball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics was contested from 30 August to 7 September. 28 matches were played; 20 in the group play, 4 quarter-finals, 2 semi-finals, a bronze medal match, and a gold medal match.
Canada women's national goalball team is the women's national team of Canada. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. The team takes part in international goalball competitions.
Japan women's national goalball team is the women's national team of Japan. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. Its women's team has internationally completed including at the IBSA World Goalball Championships and the Paralympic Games.
Brazil women's national goalball team is the women's national team of Brazil. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. The team takes part in international goalball competitions.
China women's national goalball team is the women's national team of China. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with vision impairment. It takes part in international competitions.
Belgium men's national goalball team is the men's national team of Belgium. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. The national team takes part in international competitions.
Finland men's national goalball team is the men's national team of Finland. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. The team takes part in international competitions.
Italy men's national goalball team is the men's national team of Italy. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. The team takes part in international goalball competitions.
Tyler Merren is an American goalball player. His visual impairment is caused by retinitis pigmentosa. He attended Wayland High School and went to Western Michigan University to study exercise science.
Sevda Altunoluk is a Turkish Paralympian goalball player competing for Yenimahalle Belediyespor in Ankara. She is a member of the national team, and was named several times as Top goalscorer. In 2021 she was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women.
Gülşah Düzgün is a Turkish female Paralympian goalball player. She is a member of the national team.
The IBSA Goalball World Championships is an international goalball tournament held every four years, since 1978, between Paralympic Games goalball tournaments. It is organised by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Goalball Subcommittee.
Akiko Adachi is a Japanese goalball player who won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. She scored the game-winning goal in the final against China.
Eiko Kakehata is a Japanese goalball player who won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
Lithuania men's national goalball team is the men's national team of Lithuania. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. It takes part in international competitions.