Liisa Lilja

Liisa Lilja
Lilja at 2016 Summer Paralympics
Personal information
Born (1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 34)
Pori, Finland
Sport
Country Finland
SportParatriathlon
DisabilityBone cancer survivor
PTS2
Coached byTommi Martikainen
Medal record
Women's paratriathlon
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 RotterdamPTS2
Silver medal – second place2016 RotterdamPT2
Bronze medal – third place2021 Abu DhabiPTS2
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 KitzbühelPTS2
Silver medal – second place2015 GenevaPT2
Silver medal – second place2016 LisbonPT2
Silver medal – second place2019 ValenciaPTS2
Silver medal – second place2021 ValenciaPTS2

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.

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.

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.