IPC code FIN Competitors 26 in 1 sport | Website www.paralympia.fi/en 8 7 | |
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NPC Finnish Paralympic Committee Medals
Ranked 3rd Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
8
7
7
22 | ||
Finland participated in the inaugural Winter Paralympic Games in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The country was represented by 26 athletes (22 men and 4 women). This was the second largest delegation at the Örnsköldsvik Games, behind West Germany's - larger than that of the host country. Finns competed exclusively in cross-country skiing.
Previously, Finland had competed at three editions of the Summer Paralympics (in 1960, 1968 and 1972), and had fared modestly, with a total of four medals (of which one gold). The country's performance at the inaugural Winter Games was thus a significant improvement, revealing Finland as a major Winter Paralympics power. The country swept up 22 medals (eight gold, seven silver and seven bronze), and finished third on the overall medal table. It would go on to finish second in 1980 and 1984, before beginning a slow but steady decline.
Finland's gold medallists at the Örnsköldsvik Games were: