Erika Salumäe

Who is Erika Salumäe?

Erika Salumäe is an Estonian track bicycle racer who won the first Olympic gold medal for Estonia after the country regained its independence in 1991.

She was born in Pärnu. She trained at VSS Kalev in Tallinn. Salumäe won gold medal in track cycling in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, competing for the USSR team and in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, competing for Estonia. From 1981 to 1989, she won 10 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals in the World Championships. From 1982 to 1989, she set 15 world records and was elected the Best Estonian Athlete in 1983, 1984, 1987–1990, 1992, 1995, and 1996.

In 2008, Salumäe participated as a celebrity contestant on the third season of Tantsud tähtedega, an Estonian version of Dancing with the Stars. Her professional dancing parner was Kristjan Kuusk.