Skip to main content
12221
Chatbot Button Back to International Paralympic Committee homepage Go to PyeongChang 2018
Contrast:
High Contrast
Normal Contrast
Enlargement:
Larger Font Size
Default Font Size
Smaller Font Size
    • Home
    • Watch
    • News
    • Schedule & Results
    • Highlights
    • Sports
    • Countries
    • Athletes
    • Venues
    • About
    • Tickets
    • Samsung Bloggers
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    PyeongChang 2018: Lena Schroeder’s historic moment

    15.03.2018

    Norway's Para ice hockey player shares her road to the Winter Paralympics

    a female Para ice hockey player with her teammates on the ice Lena Schroeder has become the first woman in 24 years to play ice hockey at the Winter Paralympics © • Getty Images
    By IPC
    Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker

    Norway and Sweden did not have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Para ice hockey competition at PyeongChang 2018 when they faced off in Group A. But the match was historic nevertheless.

    After 24 years, a female player once again competed at a Paralympic Winter Games, with Norwegian Lena Schroeder taking to the ice for the first time in the competition since compatriot Bri Mjaasund Oejen at Lillehammer 1994.

    Despite acknowledging the importance of this achievement as another step towards gender equality through sports, Schroeder wants to prove she is not just a female player but a good player.

    “I understand why I get the attention, but apart from being the only female player in the competition, I want to show everyone how I can play.”

    “I understand why I get the attention, but apart from being the only female player in the competition, I want to show everyone how I can play,” the 24-year-old said.

    Schroeder began playing Para ice hockey at age 15 in 2008 in Moss, Norway. "I didn't have any other experience with Para sports other than sit-skiing.

    “So I just got a message from someone I knew that they were starting a team where I lived. And I thought, 'Hey, I should give this a chance because it's probably the only opportunity I have to do Para sports in my area'."

    She has not stopped ever since, dreaming to one day compete at the biggest stage of all. “Being at a Paralympic Winter Games had been my goal for a long time. It is fun to be part of the Norwegian team and great to compete at my first Games,” she said.

    “I play as a forward but have played defence before. Men are faster and stronger but I have to compensate that and I am getting there. I am good at reading the game, the tactics. That is my most important skill. I have to be smart and use my timing.”

    As to how it feels to share the team just with male players, Schroeder admits she is “one more. And most of the guys consider me like that, which is what I want. I am no more or less important than any. We are all equally important.

    “We share the dressing room but I get to shower alone, I go either before or after. We have our logistics and it works.

    “I hope me being here as a female can help. There are more female athletes competing here than in Sochi. It is developing. I am just a part of that, there are many other women competing at the Paralympics who deserve attention.”

    Tickets for PyeongChang 2018 can be purchased here.

    Every competition as well as the Closing Ceremony can be watched live right here on the International Paralympic Committee’s website. Highlights of each day’s action will also be made available.

    Related News
    PyeongChang 2018: Day 5 as it happens
    PyeongChang 2018: Czechs break Swedish hearts in shootout
    PyeongChang 2018: Para ice hockey flash quotes day 5
    • Tweet
      • print
      • send
    LATEST NEWS
    Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation 05.08.2019 Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation
    Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude 05.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude
    Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day 04.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day
    Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way 03.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way
    Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month 02.08.2019 Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month
    More news...following the link
    Worldwide Paralympic Partners
    Go to Atos partner page
    Go to Bridgestone partner page
    Go to OttoBock partner page
    Go to Panasonic partner page
    Go to Samsung partner page
    Go to Toyota partner page
    Go to Visa partner page
    International Partners
    Go to Allianz partner page
    Go to BP partner page
    Go to Citi partner page
    • FAQ
    • Privacy
    • Imprint
    • Jobs
    Powered by Go to Atos. Worldwide IPC partner page
    The Paralympic Games
    Summer Games
    Winter Games
    Sochi 2014
    Rio 2016
    All the results & medallist since 1960
    Games video archive
    About the IPC
    Who we are
    Anti-Doping
    Medical
    Partners
    IPC Strategic Plan 2015-2018
    IPC Handbook
    Publications and Documents
    Media Centre
    News
    Features & Interviews
    The Paralympian
    Videos
    Athlete of the Month
    Media Office
    Sports
    Summer Sports
    Winter Sports
    Biographies
    NPCS
    Africa
    America
    Asia
    Europe
    Oceania
    Go to International Paralympic Committee homepage
    Official Website of the Paralympic Movement • IPC
    Homepage
    Paralympic Games
    The IPC
    Results, Ranking & Records
    Media Centre
    Videos
    Sports
    International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
    Adenauerallee 212-214, 53113 Bonn, Germany
    Telephone: +49-228-2097-200 • Fax: +49-228-2097-209 • E-mail: [email protected]
    16:43:38