In two days, Beijing Paralympics 2022 will have its closing ceremony. Truly, it has been a visual treat to watch so many amazing performances by para-athletes from across the globe. While some athletes would have faced setbacks and disappointments in the Paralympics, many have created history with their exceptional gameplay.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Amongst the top performers at Beijing Paralympics 2022 was the Austrian cross-country skier, Carina Edlinger. She won her first-ever Paralympic gold in women’s long-distance cross-country para skiing event. Prior to the event, she wasn’t feeling great, but in the end, she was rewarded with her career’s greatest accomplishment and she shared the moment with her best friend as well.
Carina Edlinger shared the podium with her dog at the Beijing Paralympics
It was a proud moment for the 23-year-old Austrian para skier being at the Paralympics podium as she shared it with her beloved guide dog, Riley. Carina believes this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without Riley, who was always with her as a true companion.
Dog on the podium alert! ??
Carina Edlinger ?? celebrates Para cross-country #Gold with her guide dog Riley on the podium.#WinterParalympics #Beijing2022 #ParaNordic @ParaSnowSports @NPC_Austria pic.twitter.com/jALjrtYs7k
? Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) March 9, 2022
She said, “My dog is a guide dog. I see between 1.5 and 2 percent, so I am probably the most low-vision athlete who is competing here, so it’s kind of tricky, but he helped me?not only to find my ways but also emotionally over the past couple of days.”
Carina further added, “For me, the most important thing coming to China was to bring my dog. If my dog would not have been able to enter China, I would directly fly home.”
Carina Edlinger had a challenging Paralympic Games
The Austrian para skier was not in great condition to compete at the Paralympics. In fact, at one point, she was almost about to leave the Beijing Paralympics without a medal. She couldn’t complete her para biathlon sprint because of extreme pain in the body and her participation in the cross-country was also under doubt.
However, the only thing that the world is going to remember now is that Carina Edlinger is a Paralympic champion. She didn’t give up against the hardships and thus became a legend, courtesy of the support from her furry friend.
WATCH THIS STORY???Nathan Chen, unsure about his future in figure skating opens up on Russian controversy at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
