Saskia Alusalu

Memorable sporting achievement	Representing Estonia at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, where she placed fourth in the mass start. (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)
Most influential person in career	Her parents. (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)
Hero / Idol	Estonian wrestler Kristjan Palusalu. (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Get the best out of yourself." (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)
Injuries	She suffered cuts to her chest and thigh following an accident in the mass start at the 2014 World Cup event in Inzell, Germany. She did not compete again that season. (goodnews.ee, 09 Jul 2014) She broke her ankle in 2011 and was out of action for three months. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2017)

Reason for choosing this sport	She was involved in volleyball, football, athletics and skiing before taking up skating. "I was not raised as an athlete, but as a child I really enjoyed doing sports. In 2005 I saw a speed skater on the ice at the school stadium [in Adavere, Estonia]. I remember being completely fascinated by how he moved on the ice. Before that I didn't know anything about speed skating."
When and where did you begin this sport?	She took up speed skating at age 12 in Adavere, Estonia. In 2011 she began taking the sport seriously and started training full-time in Inzell, Germany.

Nicknames	Sassu (kiaspeedskatingacademy.com, 10 Jan 2014)
Other information	BREAK AND RETIREMENT In January 2021 she decided to take a break from the sport for the remainder of the 2020/21 season. In August 2021 she announced her retirement from the sport. "I am more and more aware that I have missed certain things in life and because of that I have lost the motivation needed to live a life as a top athlete. I have lived eight years of my life in Inzell [Germany], far away from family and friends. It's hard to bond with someone when you're in a new country every week, in a different hotel and no sense of belonging. My body is at a breaking point and there's no point in doing it half-heartedly." (schaatsen.nl, 24 Aug 2021; Instagram profile, 24 Aug 2021; sport.ohtuleht.ee, 06 Jan 2021) OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2020 she was elected as a member of the Estonian Olympic Committee Athletes' Committee. (saskiaalusalu.ee, 21 May 2020)

www.facebook.com/saskia.alusalu

Awards and honours	In 2018 she was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Estonian Olympic Committee [EOK]. She was the first female Estonian speed skater to win the award. (sport.err.ee, 27 Dec 2018) She was flag bearer for Estonia at the opening ceremony and closing ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (OIS, 25 Feb 2018, 09 Feb 2018)
Other sports	She competed at the 2018 Ironman event in Tallinn, Estonia. She also participated in roller speed skating at the 2018 Estonian National Championships. (Instagram profile, 07 Aug 2018; sport.postimees.ee, 17 Jul 2018; virumaateataja.postimees.ee, 06 Jul 2018)
Hobbies	Reading, spending time outdoors, spending time with family. (raha24.ee, 03 Mar 2020)
Milestones	She became the first female speed skater to represent Estonia at the Olympic Winter Games when she participated in the mass start at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. (OIS, 21 Feb 2018; kiaspeedskatingacademy.com, 10 Jan 2014; SportsDeskOnline, 18 Jan 2021) At the 2013 World Cup event in Calgary, AB, Canada, she became the first speed skater to represent Estonia at a World Cup event. Other Estonian athletes had previously participated in the competition but skated for the Soviet Union. (OIS, 21 Feb 2018; kiaspeedskatingacademy.com, 10 Jan 2014; SportsDeskOnline, 18 Jan 2021)

www.saskiaalusalu.ee
twitter.com/saskiaalusalu