Birgit Skarstein

Birgit Lovise Røkkum Skarstein (born 10 February 1989) is a Norwegian Paralympic athlete and social entrepreneur. She has 12 World Championship medals (eight in rowing and four in cross-country skiing) and is the reigning World Champion and Paralympic champion in the rowing class PR1Wx, where she also holds the world record.

She won gold at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Women's single sculls. She has won the world cup overall title in both rowing and cross country skiing and has several individual world cup wins in both sports. Skarstein was in 2018 elected as a member of the International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council, where she in 2022 was re-elected for a second term.

Skarstein is a member of World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers, and was a delegate and speaker at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos in 2022, as well as a panellist and speaker at the Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Week Dialogue on the topic of "Future of Life".

Background
Birgit grew up in Levanger, Norway and was active within school politics and activities such as climbing, hiking and swimming. After finishing high school in 2008 she travelled to Thailand to work as a volunteer at an orphanage. Whilst travelling to renew her visa in December 2008, she injured her foot in a diving accident – an accident that required surgery. She was flown home to Norway and underwent several procedures. During one of the procedures she had an injection of anaesthetic into the epidural space of the spine, but it never wore off. She gradually lost the feeling in her legs, making her paralyzed.

Athletic career
In rowing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Skarstein finished fourth in the single sculls event. In cross-country skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics, she competed in the 1 km sprint classic, 5 km free, and 15 km free events. In cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she competed in the 1.5 km sprint classic, 7.5 km classic, and 15 km free events.

Skarstein won a gold medal in PR1W1x at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, ahead of Moran Samuel.

In 2019 Skarstein qualified to represent Norway at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan after winning the gold medal in the PR1 Women's single sculls event at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.

In 2021 she took gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics with a time of 10.56,88.

Skarstein holds the world record at 9.50,39 taken in a regatta in Poznan, 2022.

Career
Skarstein holds a degree in political sciences from the University of Oslo. She has actively been involved within politics and boards throughout her life and athletic career. She has served in the City Council of Oslo, been a member of the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board and World Economic Forum's Global Shapers, elected as a member of Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon's SIKT-alumni, and served as a board member of Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, Stiftelsen VI and Sunnaasstiftelsen.

In 2020, Skarstein participated in Skal vi danse, the Norwegian version of Dancing with the Stars, becoming the first wheelchair user to appear on the program. Skarstein and her Swedish dance partner Philip Raabe established themselves as potential favourites to win the 2020 season, impressing both the judges and viewers. They made it all the way to the eighth week before losing out in a dance duel against Michael Andreassen and Ewa Trela.

In 2021, Skarstein was featured in the children's book "My first biography" by Kristian Grue. She wanted to use the opportunity to create a more diverse offering to kids.

Skarstein is also an ambassador for MOT, Stiftelsen VI, and Right To Play.

Awards
In 2019, Skarstein was awarded Egebergs Ærespris for her efforts and contribution in multiple sports. In 2021, she was awarded the Peer Gynt Prize.

Personal life
Skarstein is close friends with dancer Helene Spilling, with the pair having met on Skal vi danse.