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PÄIVI TOLPPANEN (FINLAND)
Anette Päivi Kristiina Tolppanen from Finland, known as Päivi for short, is one of the best female goalball players in the world. Born in 1977, at the age of 13 she discovered goalball. In January 1991 she played her first tournament with her club team, and in January 1992, at the age of 14, she successfully joined the Finnish national team. Päivi won her first gold medal at the IBSA European Championships in 1997, taking gold again one year later at the IBSA World Championships in Madrid and at the IBSA Europeans in 1999.
At the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and Athens 2004 Paralympic Games she took 4th place with the Finnish team. "Only" silver was the result at the IBSA Europeans in 2001.
For Päivi, however, there is also life beyond goalball. She is a physiotherapist and also a registered Wodder method therapist. Where does she work? Päivi works in a health care clinic in an out-patient program with neurological patients. She also has her own business providing lymphatherapy and related equipment (stockings, sleeves, etc.) and consulting services to hospitals. Her other interests include her wonderful dog Simba (a great dane), horseback riding and reading.
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