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Laura KANGASNIEMI

Laura KANGASNIEMI, Finnish Para Dressage athlete.
Name Laura KANGASNIEMI
FEI ID 10264590
Gender Female
Date of Birth 04/01/2000
Competing for Finland - FIN
Registration Para Dressage 2025
Last update 03/09/2024
FEI Database



Para Dressage 70x70
Impairment Information
Type of Impairment Cerebral palsy
Origin of Impairment Riding accident in 2017 when she was 17 years old
Classification Group IV
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? After her fall she switched from Jumping to Dressage and then Para Dressage. (Laurak.fi profile)
Name of coach Sports coach: Arto-Pekka Heino, Janne Bergh Physical trainer: Jari Nordblom Psychic coach: Erika Ruokamo Manager: Emilia Nevalainen
Sponsor Sievi
Further Personal Information
Residence Germany. She moved there in April 2023 to train for Paris 2024. (Instagram 09 August 24)
General Interest
Injuries She broke her ankle in January 2023 and was not able to compete for 12 weeks. (Laurak.fi)
Sporting philosophy / motto "I love sports, nature, friends and of course horses, I am also quite determined by nature and I do everything for my dreams and goals. My passion as an athlete is to constantly improve and learn about horses." (Laurak.fi profile)
Ambitions "These years have been a lot of adjusting, learning and perseverance. I am currently an entrepreneur and competing with my horse Prince on an international level in school riding, aiming for the Paris 2024 Paralympics." (Facebook, 21 Jul 2023)
Impairment She fell from her horse at 17 years old and was in a coma for a week. She had a severe brain injury and the right side of her body was paralysed initially. She can now sit and walk. "The disability still limits my life, but it doesn't stop me from pursuing my dreams." (Laurak.fi profile)
Other information She wanted to be a vet originally (Instagram, 09 August 2024)