This year’s Ridderrennet China saw great performances from the 58 participants as they fought their way through the 5 km and 10 km tracks in three categories; deaf, standing physically disabled and sitting physically disabled.

The winners include Fu Chunshan, Han Lixia and Ole Theodor Sponberg for the 10 km classes. Bjorn Wiseth, Zhang Peng and Wang Meng were the 5 km winners.

The Norwegian Ambassador Tor Chr. Hildan was a guide for the first time. He guided Wang Zhuo, one of the visually impaired students from Changchun University, through the 5 km long track, and was truly impressed by the efforts of all the skiers. He expressed a strong wish to come back to guide his friend Wang again next year.

The participants include 40 students from Changchun University, competing with Chinese professional athletes, most of whom is already qualified for the Paralympics in Italy later this year, and 9 Norwegian skiers. The Norwegian group included 22 times Paralympic gold meal winner in sit-ski, Ragnhild Myklebust, and 1999 winner of the bronze medal in Deaflympics, Ole Theodor Sponberg.

Background

Ridderrennet was introduced to China by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing in 2003, and it is now an integrated part of Vasaloppet China Week.

Ridderrennet is an annual cross-country ski event at Beitostolen, Norway, for people with a disability. The aim of the Ridderweek and the Ridderrenn is to give people with a disability an opportunity to prove to themselves and to others what they are capable of doing. It is an event characterized by the joy of skiing, socializing and an incredible will and ability to overcome physical disabilities. A Changchun newspaper described the 2005 event as “the most moving event of the Vasaloppet Week” and that the athletes, by “demonstrating the ability to challenge themselves and overcome any obstacle” personified the Ridderrenn’s motto: “making the impossible possible”.