 |
Kristjan IlvesEstonian biathlete
Date of Birth: 10.06.1996
Country:  Estonia |
Content:
- Kristjan Ilves: Estonian Nordic Combined Skier
- International Debut and Winter Youth Olympics
- World Cup Debut and Winter Olympics
- Awards and Family
Kristjan Ilves: Estonian Nordic Combined Skier
Early Career and Junior AchievementsKristjan Ilves, an Estonian Nordic combined skier, first took up ski jumping at the tender age of four. By the time he reached the junior level, Ilves had established himself as a formidable competitor, participating in three Junior World Championships. His greatest triumph came in 2013, when he claimed the bronze medal in the normal hill jump and 5km race at the same event.
International Debut and Winter Youth Olympics
In 2012, Ilves made his international debut at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. He performed admirably, finishing 7th in the normal hill jump and 10km race. The following year, he made his senior World Championship debut in Val di Fiemme, Italy, though his results were more modest with a 39th-place finish in the large hill jump and 10km race.
World Cup Debut and Winter Olympics
Ilves' World Cup debut came on February 2, 2013, at the stage in Sochi, Russia. He earned his first World Cup points in January 2014 in Tchaikovsky, Russia, placing 30th. The following month, Ilves made history by representing Estonia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. While his 17th-place finish in the normal hill jump was promising, his 44th-ranked performance in the cross-country skiing component ultimately resulted in a final standing of 41st. In the large hill jump and 10km race, Ilves again impressed in the jumping portion, placing 8th, but his weak cross-country skiing skills once more prevented him from contending for a medal, landing him in 34th place.
Awards and Family
Ilves' outstanding achievements have been recognized with the Estonian Young Athlete of the Year award in 2010. His father, Andrus Ilves, was also an international competitor in Nordic combined and ski jumping, further underscoring the family's athletic legacy.
