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Elena Rigas

Denmark

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSDEN22901199601
NOCDenmark
Born29 Jan 1996 in  Albertslund
GenderWomen
ResidenceCopenhagen, DEN
Higher educationInternational Relations - Roskilde University: Denmark
OccupationAthlete, Student
LanguagesDanish, English, Greek
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 41.80 30 Sep 2016 Inzell  
    1000m 1:21.71 21 Oct 2016 Inzell  
    1500m 2:02.48 09 Dec 2017 Salt Lake City, UT  
    3000m 4:11.69 01 Dec 2017 Calgary  
General Interest
General Interest
Other sportsShe has represented Denmark in inline skating. She was ranked seventh in the road 10,000m points race at the 2016 European Championships in Heerde, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Nov 2016)  
Famous relativesHer mother Karin Rigas has served as chairperson of the Danish Skate Union [DSU], while her cousin Jasper Carlson has worked as the Danish national speed skating coach. (elenarigas.com, 24 Nov 2016; danskate.dk, 2016)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"My friends changed from inline skating to speed skating during the winter and so did I."  
General Interest
General Interest
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (elenarigas.com, 2018)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachJesper Carlson [national, cousin], DEN  
When and where did you begin this sport?She first tried inline skating at age five. She began speed skating during the 2011/12 season.  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"Go fast, have fun." (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Other informationFURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied economics and corporate communications at Copenhagen Business School [CBS] in Denmark. (Facebook profile, 21 Apr 2017)

HERITAGE
Her mother is Danish and her father was born in Greece. (elenarigas.com, 2018)
 
Memorable sporting achievementPlacing second in the mass start at the 2017 World Cup event in Calgary, AB, Canada, and competing at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Most influential person in careerCoach Jesper Carlson, and her grandmother Leni. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Hero / IdolHer grandfather Borge Scharfe. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)  
Awards and honoursShe was Denmark's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (standard.co.uk, 09 Feb 2018)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.elenarigas.com/  
www.facebook.com/elenamrigas  
twitter.com/eleni_rigass  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamHurtigloberforeningen af 72 [HLF72]: Copenhagen, DEN  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps6  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps8  
    2018 Olympic Games Mass Start 16 Laps17  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2017/2018 Calgary, AB Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps6  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps10  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps16  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps23  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall27  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m50