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Birgit Skarstein

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Birgit Skarstein
Skarstein in 2013
Personal information
Full nameBirgit Lovise Røkkum Skarstein
NationalityNorwegian
Born10 February 1989 (1989-02-10) (age 35)
Sport
SportRowing
Cross-country skiing
Medal record
Representing  Norway
Women's pararowing
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo PR1 single sculls
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris PR1 single sculls
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Amsterdam AS single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2017 Sarasota PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2018 Plovdiv PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2019 Ottensheim PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2022 Račice PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2023 Belgrade PR1 single sculls
Silver medal – second place 2013 Chungju AS single sculls
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Aiguebelette-le-lac AS single sculls
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Varese PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2022 Oberschleißheim PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2023 Bled PR1 single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2024 Szeged PR1 single sculls
Women's para cross-country skiing
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 Finsterau 12.5 km sitting
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Finsterau 5 km sitting
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Prince George 5 km sitting
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Prince George 12.5 km sitting

Birgit Lovise Røkkum Skarstein (born 10 February 1989) is a Norwegian Paralympic athlete and social entrepreneur who competes in pararowing and para cross-country skiing. She is a Paralympic champion and silver medallist, six-time world champion and four-time European champion in single sculls. Skarstein has won a total of twelve World Championships medals, eight in rowing and four in cross-country skiing, and holds the world best time in women's single sculls.[1][2]

Skarstein won the gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and the silver medal in the women's single sculls at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[3][4][5] She has won the world cup overall title in both rowing and cross-country skiing and has several individual world cup wins in both sports. Skarstein was in 2018 elected as a member of the International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council,[6] where she in 2022 was re-elected for a second term.

Skarstein is a member of World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers, and was a delegate and speaker at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos in 2022,[7] as well as a panellist and speaker at the Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Week Dialogue on the topic of "Future of Life".[8]

Background

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Skarstein grew up in Levanger, Norway and was active within school politics and activities such as climbing, hiking and swimming. After finishing high school in 2008 she travelled to Thailand to work as a volunteer at an orphanage. Whilst travelling to renew her visa in December 2008, she injured her foot in a diving accident – an accident that required surgery. She was flown home to Norway and underwent several procedures. During one of the procedures she had an injection of anaesthetic into the epidural space of the spine, but it never wore off.[9] She gradually lost the feeling in her legs, making her paralyzed.

Athletic career

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In rowing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Skarstein finished fourth in the single sculls event. In cross-country skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics, she competed in the 1 km sprint classic, 5 km free, and 15 km free events. In cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she competed in the 1.5 km sprint classic, 7.5 km classic, and 15 km free events.

Skarstein won a gold medal in PR1W1x at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, ahead of Moran Samuel.[10]

In 2019, Skarstein qualified to represent Norway at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo after winning the gold medal in the PR1 women's single sculls event at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.[11] She won the gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2020 Summer Paralympics with a time of 10.56,88. In 2023, Skarstein set a new world record in the women's single sculls with the time of 9.47,83 at the World Rowing Cup in Varese.[1][2] She won the silver medal in the women's single sculls at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.[12]

Career

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Skarstein holds a degree in political sciences from the University of Oslo. She has actively been involved within politics and boards throughout her life and athletic career. She has served in the City Council of Oslo,[13] been a member of the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board[14] and World Economic Forum's Global Shapers, elected as a member of Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon's SIKT-alumni,[15] and served as a board member of Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, Stiftelsen VI and Sunnaasstiftelsen.

In 2020, Skarstein participated in Skal vi danse, the Norwegian version of Dancing with the Stars, becoming the first wheelchair user to appear on the program.[16] Skarstein and her Swedish dance partner Philip Raabe established themselves as potential favourites to win the 2020 season, impressing both the judges and viewers. They made it all the way to the eighth week before losing out in a dance duel against Michael Andreassen and Ewa Trela.[17]

In 2021, Skarstein was featured in the children's book "My first biography" by Kristian Grue. She wanted to use the opportunity to create a more diverse offering to kids.[18]

Skarstein is also an ambassador for MOT, Stiftelsen VI, and Right To Play.[19][20][21]

Awards

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In 2019, Skarstein was awarded Egebergs Ærespris for her efforts and contribution in multiple sports.[22] In 2021, she was awarded the Peer Gynt Prize.[23]

Personal life

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Skarstein is close friends with dancer Helene Spilling, with the pair having met on Skal vi danse.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Roing: Birgit Skarstein senket sin egen verdensbestenotering" [Rowing: Birgit Skarstein lowered her own world best time]. VG (in Norwegian). 18 June 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Road to Paris : The PR1 Single Sculls". World Rowing. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Dominant performance sees Birgit Skarstein claim elusive Paralympic gold in Tokyo". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  4. ^ Capar, Robin-Ivan (29 August 2021). "Birgit Skarstein wins Norway's first Paralympics gold in Tokyo: "It was like a dream"". Norway Today. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Rowing: SKARSTEIN, Birgit Lovise Roekkum". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Birgit Skarstein - Rowing, Nordic Skiing | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  7. ^ "The Fourth Industrial Revolution will give us super powers". World Economic Forum. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Nobel Week Dialogue". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Birgit Skarstein - Rowing, Nordic Skiing | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. ^ Hjellen, Bjørnar (1 October 2017). "Skarstein fosset inn til nytt VM-gull: – En drøm går i oppfyllelse" [Skarstein watered in for new World Cup gold: - A dream come true]. nrk.no (in Norwegian). NTB. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  11. ^ Patrick, O’Kane (1 September 2019). "Polianskyi and Skarstein claim PR1 single sculls titles at World Rowing Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  12. ^ Laursen, Henrik Haug; Stenberg, Morten (1 September 2024). "Paralympics i Paris 2024: Birgit Skarstein tok sølv i roing". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Her er Oslo Aps nye bystyregruppe". Arbeiderpartiet (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Tidlegare Bioteknologiråd". Bioteknologirådet (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Deltakere 2022 – SIKT-konferansen". sikt.org (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Birgit Skarstein skal være med i "Skal vi danse": – Jeg måtte ta noen runder før jeg sa ja". aftenposten.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  17. ^ Røssland, Vilde Holta; Solberg, Trine (24 October 2020). "Birgit Skarstein ute av «Skal vi danse»" [Birgit Skarstein out of 'Skal vi danse']. Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Laget bok for barn om Birgit Skarstein". Klar Tale (in Norwegian). 5 November 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Birgit Skarstein". MOT Norge (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Ambassadører". Stiftelsen Vi. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Birgit Skarstein". righttoplay.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  22. ^ Bryhn, Rolf. "Egebergs ærespris". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Birgit Skarstein er Årets Peer Gynt: – Det er stas". vg.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 27 April 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  24. ^ Justad, Stig H. (6 April 2023). "- Hun betyr så mye for meg". Se og Hør (in Norwegian). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  25. ^ Løland, Tuva Mathilde (21 June 2023). "Birgit Skarstein droppet kjendisfest for å støtte Helene Spilling: – Viktigere for meg". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
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Preceded by Egebergs Ærespris
2019 		Succeeded by
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