Kaija Parve

Who is Kaija Parve?

Kaija Parve-Helinurm is a former and so far most successful Estonian biathlete. She used to be a cross-country skier, but after hearing that there was a possibility to participate in World Championships, Parve switched to biathlon. After spending 7 years with Soviet biathlon team, she retired in 1990 due to pregnany and getting married. In 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, women's biathlon was held for the first time. The contestants, who won medals, had been beaten by Kaija with several minutes just few years earlier. With her 7 golds in World Championships, she was the best female athlete in the 20th century.