Aida Dahlen

Aida Dahlen
Dahlen in 2010
Personal information
Full nameAida Husić Dahlen
NationalityNorwegian
Born (1990-10-05) 5 October 1990 (age 34)
Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Sport
Country Norway
SportPara table tennis
Disability classClass 8
ClubRandesund IL
Medal record
Para table tennis
Representing  Norway
Paralympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Singles C8
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Singles C8
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Doubles WD14
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2014 Beijing Singles C8
Silver medal – second place 2022 Granada Singles C8
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Laško Singles C8
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Vejle Singles C8
Gold medal – first place 2017 Laško Singles C8
Gold medal – first place 2023 Sheffield Singles C8
Gold medal – first place 2023 Sheffield Doubles WD14
Silver medal – second place 2013 Lignano Singles C8
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Split Singles C8
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Laško Teams C6-8
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Helsingborg Singles C8
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Helsingborg Teams C6-8

Aida Husić Dahlen (born 5 October 1990) is a Norwegian para table tennis player, currently ranked world number one in women's sports class 8.[1] Dahlen is a Paralympic silver and two-time bronze medallist, two-time World Championships silver medallist and a bronze medallist, and four-time European champion. She won the silver medal in the individual class 8 event and a bronze medal in the doubles class 14 event at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, and a bronze medal in the individual class 8 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[2][3][4] Dahlen is a four-time Paralympian and made her Paralympics debut at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.

Life

Dahlen was born on 5 October 1990 in Sarajevo, before the outbreak of the Bosnian War.[5] She was born without a left forearm and lower left leg.[6][5] Dahlen was adopted by Norwegian parents at the age of six.[7]

She took up table tennis at the age of 12 after being encouraged by a friend, and first competed internationally in 2008 at the age of 18.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Aida Dahlen". IPTTC.org. International Para Table Tennis Federation. 4 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Table Tennis: DAHLEN Aida". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  3. ^ NTB (6 September 2024). "Aida Dahlen til finale i bordtennis i Paralympics". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  4. ^ Overvik, Jostein (7 September 2024). "Forbannet Aida Dahlen tapte finalen: – Det er tungt". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b Strøm, Ole Kristian (6 September 2016). "Hun ble forlatt av foreldrene i Sarajevo. Nå er Aida norsk gullhåp i Rio" [She was left by her parents in Sarajevo. Now Aida is a Norwegian gold hope in Rio.]. VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  6. ^ Støstad, Mads Nyborg; Rismyhr, Kim Peder; Bjørntvedt, Jan Fredrik (21 November 2011). "Bordtennishåp med én arm og protese". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  7. ^ Engeland, Anders (1 November 2015). "Aida hørte om bordtennis da hun var 12 år. Nå er hun nummer to i verden" [Aida heard about table tennis when she was 12 years old. Now she's ranked number two in the world]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ "My Way to Olympia". pov.org. 7 July 2014.