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Saskia Alusalu

Estonia

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSEST21404199401
NOCEstonia
Born14 Apr 1994 in  Jogeva
GenderWomen
OccupationStudent
LanguagesEnglish, Estonian
ResidenceAdavere, EST
Higher educationCoaching - Tallinn University: Estonia
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 40.85 23 Feb 2019 Calgary  
    1000m 1:19.01 17 Mar 2019 Calgary  
    1500m 1:58.64 17 Mar 2019 Calgary  
    3000m 4:07.43 13 Oct 2019 Inzell  
    5000m 7:19.14 30 Sep 2017 Inzell  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementRepresenting 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 careerHer parents. (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)  
Hero / IdolEstonian wrestler Kristjan Palusalu. (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Get the best out of yourself." (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)  
InjuriesShe 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)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportShe 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.  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesSassu (kiaspeedskatingacademy.com, 10 Jan 2014)  
Other informationBREAK 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)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/saskia.alusalu  
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursIn 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 sportsShe 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)  
HobbiesReading, spending time outdoors, spending time with family. (raha24.ee, 03 Mar 2020)  
MilestonesShe 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)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.saskiaalusalu.ee  
twitter.com/saskiaalusalu  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2018 Olympic Games Mass Start 16 Laps4  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps10  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps11  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps11  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 3000m12  
    2018/2019 European Allround Championships Allround13  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps13  
    2016/2017 European Allround Championships Allround16  
    2015/2016 European Championships Allround17  
    2014/2015 European Championships Allround17  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 3000m18  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1500m19  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps19  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps21  
    2016/2017 World Allround Championships Allround23  
    2018/2019 World Allround Championships Allround24  
    2013/2014 European Championships Allround24  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps8  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Mass Start 15 Laps10  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps11  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps18  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m21  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m26  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps26  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps28  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps30  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall33  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m37  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m42  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m44  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m47  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1500m54