(; born 30 August 1971) is a Finnish Paralympic gold medalist in

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...

. She was born in Ii with a withered right hand due to a congenital condition. In 2003, she was nominated for the

Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability The Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability is an annual award honouring the achievements of individual disabled athletes from the world of Paralympic sports. It was first awarded in 2000 as one of the seven cons ...

and in 2010 she was inducted into the

Paralympic Hall of Fame The Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which was established by the International Paralympic Committee. On 30 August 2012, five paralympic athletes were inducted into the fourth ''Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame'' in a ceremony in Londo ...

. She was voted Finland's best disabled athlete in 1998 and 2002. In the 2000s, Kari was a member of the WADA Athletes' Committee and the Athletes' Committee of the International Paralympic Committee.

References

1971 births Living people People from Ii Finnish female cross-country skiers Paralympic cross-country skiers for Finland Cross-country skiers at the 1992 Winter Paralympics Cross-country skiers at the 1994 Winter Paralympics Cross-country skiers at the 1998 Winter Paralympics Cross-country skiers at the 2002 Winter Paralympics Paralympic gold medalists for Finland Paralympic silver medalists for Finland Paralympic bronze medalists for Finland Medalists at the 1992 Winter Paralympics Medalists at the 1994 Winter Paralympics Medalists at the 1998 Winter Paralympics Medalists at the 2002 Winter Paralympics Medalists at the 1988 Winter Paralympics Paralympic medalists in cross-country skiing Skiers from North Ostrobothnia 20th-century Finnish sportswomen Amputee-category Paralympic competitors Congenital amputees Finnish amputees Sportswomen with disabilities {{Finland-Paralympic-medalist-stub