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]

Liisa Lilja
Personal information
Born (1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 32)
Pori, Finland
Sport
Country Finland
SportParatriathlon
DisabilityBone cancer survivor
Disability classPTS2
Coached byTommi Martikainen
Medal record
Women's paratriathlon
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Rotterdam PTS2
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rotterdam PT2
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Abu Dhabi PTS2
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Kitzbühel PTS2
Silver medal – second place 2015 Geneva PT2
Silver medal – second place 2016 Lisbon PT2
Silver medal – second place 2019 Valencia PTS2
Silver medal – second place 2021 Valencia PTS2

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

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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]

References

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  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.