Liisa Lilja

Last updated
Liisa Lilja
Ciclismo Triatlon.jpg
Personal information
Born (1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 32)
Pori, Finland
Sport
CountryFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
Sport Paratriathlon
Disability Bone cancer survivor
Disability class PTS2
Coached by Tommi Martikainen
Medal record
Women's paratriathlon
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Rotterdam PTS2
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2016 RotterdamPT2
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2021 Abu DhabiPTS2
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2017 KitzbühelPTS2
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2015 GenevaPT2
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2016 LisbonPT2
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2019 ValenciaPTS2
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2021 Valencia PTS2

Liisa Lilja (born 26 August 1992) is a Finnish paratriathlete who competes in international elite events. She is a World silver medalist, European champion and competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics finishing in fourth place. [1] [2]

Lilja was diagnosed with bone cancer in her right leg when she was eight years old and her right leg got amputated above the knee when she was ten years old. She began rehabilitation by doing swimming lessons and started competing in paratriathlon internationally in 2014.

Training accident

In November 2018, Lilja was involved in a car accident in Torrevieja, Spain while on a cycling training session. She was riding downhill at 40 mph and collided with a car that was on the wrong side of the road, the driver of the vehicle was convicted of drink driving when he was given a blood test. Lilja spent a few days in hospital after breaking two bones in her left leg. She was unable to train fully for three months. [3]

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References

  1. "Liisa Lilja - Athlete Bio". World Triathlon. 9 March 2021.
  2. "Liisa Lilja - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 9 March 2021.
  3. "World champion Liisa Lilja came close to death when a drunk driver hit her in the middle of a bike ride: "It was such a scary moment that life isn't scary at all anymore" (in Finnish)". Urheilu. 28 August 2019.