Viktoria Karlsson (born 27 January 1997) is a partially blind Swedish Paralympic athlete who competes in long jump events in international level events. She was a former para cross-country skier who competed in international level.[1][2][3]

Viktoria Karlsson
Personal information
NicknameVickan
Born (1997-01-27) 27 January 1997 (age 27)
Söderhamn, Sweden
Home townGothenburg, Sweden
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
CountrySweden
SportPara athletics
DisabilityEye cancer
Disability classT11
EventLong jump
ClubGothenburg KIK
Coached byJeremy Pryce
Medal record
Para athletics
Representing  Sweden
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Doha Women's long jump T11
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Swansea Women's long jump T11
Gold medal – first place 2016 Grosseto Women's long jump T11
Gold medal – first place 2018 Berlin Women's long jump T11
Silver medal – second place 2012 Stadskanaal Women's long jump T11

Life

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Karlsson was born in 1997 in Soderhamn. By the time she was five she had lost her eyesight due to cancer which started when she was eighteen months old. In 2004 she became a long jumper after she got involved in athletics because the parents thought she would benefit.[4] She won a gold medal at the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships.

In 2016 Jeremy Pryce became her coach and she joined the Goteborgs KIK club. Two years later she was competing in the T11 category in Berlin where she won another gold medal after being Sweden's flag bearer at the 2018 European Championships.[4]

The following year she tried Para cross-country skiing.[4]

In 2020 she was supported financially by a campaign which raised money from Swedes who bought a particular pillow. The money was shared between judoka Nicolina Pernheim, cyclist Louise Jannering and Karlsson in order that they could fund guides prior to the postponed 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.[5] Karlsson's guide is Sofia Sandgren.[4]

Karlsson's best jump is 4.56 metres which is a Swedish record.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Viktoria Karlsson - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Viktoria Karlsson - Athlete Website (in Swedish)". viktoriakarlsson.se. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Viktoria Karlsson - Swedish Paralympic Committee (in Swedish)". Swedish Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Viktoria Karlsson - Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  5. ^ "JYSK and Swedish Paralympic Committee give Tokyo 2020 hopefuls financial boost". insidethegames.biz. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
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