Birgit Skarstein

{{Infobox sportsperson

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| name = Birgit Skarstein

| image = Birgit Skarstein NOR boat.jpg

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| caption = Skarstein in 2021

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| fullname = Birgit Lovise Røkkum Skarstein

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| nationality = Norwegian

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| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|10 February 1989}}

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| sport = Para rowing
Para cross-country skiing

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| disability_class = PR1

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Birgit Lovise Røkkum Skarstein (born 10 February 1989) is a Norwegian former Paralympic athlete and social entrepreneur who competed in para rowing and para cross-country skiing. She is a Paralympic champion and silver medallist, six-time world champion and four-time European champion in single sculls. Skarstein has won a total of twelve World Championships medals, eight in rowing and four in cross-country skiing, and holds the world best time in women's single sculls.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-18 |title=Roing: Birgit Skarstein senket sin egen verdensbestenotering |trans-title=Rowing: Birgit Skarstein lowered her own world best time |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/EQXWRj/roing-birgit-skarstein-senket-sin-egen-verdensbestenotering |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=VG |language=no}}{{Cite web |date=9 August 2023 |title=Road to Paris : The PR1 Single Sculls |url=https://worldrowing.com/2023/08/09/road-to-paris-the-pr1-single-sculls/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=World Rowing |language=en}} She announced her retirement on 1 January 2025. {{Cite web |last=Arntzen |first=Mats |last2=Christiansen |first2=Anders K. |date=2025-01-01 |title=Birgit Skarstein legger opp: – Jeg gleder meg til neste del av livet |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/Ppq9q0/birgit-skarstein-legger-opp-jeg-gleder-meg-til-neste-del-av-livet |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=VG |language=no}}

Skarstein won the gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and the silver medal in the women's single sculls at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.{{Cite web |title=Dominant performance sees Birgit Skarstein claim elusive Paralympic gold in Tokyo |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/dominant-performance-sees-birgit-skarstein-claim-elusive-paralympic-gold-tokyo |access-date=10 September 2021 |website=International Paralympic Committee |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Capar |first=Robin-Ivan |date=29 August 2021 |title=Birgit Skarstein wins Norway's first Paralympics gold in Tokyo: "It was like a dream" |url=https://norwaytoday.info/sport/birgit-skarstein-wins-norways-first-paralympics-gold-in-tokyo-it-was-like-a-dream/ |access-date=10 September 2021 |website=Norway Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Rowing: SKARSTEIN, Birgit Lovise Roekkum |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/rowing/athlete-profile-n1646885-skarstein-birgit-lovise-roekkum.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910214947/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/rowing/athlete-profile-n1646885-skarstein-birgit-lovise-roekkum.htm |archive-date=10 September 2021 |access-date=10 September 2021 |work=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |language=en-us}} 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,{{Cite web |title=Birgit Skarstein - Rowing, Nordic Skiing | Paralympic Athlete Profile |url=https://www.paralympic.org/birgit-skarstein |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=International Paralympic Committee |language=en}} 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,{{Cite web |title=The Fourth Industrial Revolution will give us super powers |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-will-give-us-super-powers/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=World Economic Forum |date=18 January 2016 |language=en}} as well as a panellist and speaker at the Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Week Dialogue on the topic of "Future of Life".{{Cite web |title=Nobel Week Dialogue |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/events/nobel-week-dialogue/stockholm-2022/panellists/birgit-skarstein/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=NobelPrize.org |language=en-US}}

Background

Skarstein grew up in Levanger Municipality in 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/skarstein-fosset-inn-til-nytt-vm-gull-1.13713907 |title=Skarstein fosset inn til nytt VM-gull: – En drøm går i oppfyllelse |trans-title=Skarstein watered in for new World Cup gold: - A dream come true |website=nrk.no |accessdate=1 October 2017 |language=Norwegian |date=1 October 2017 |first=Bjørnar |last=Hjellen |agency=NTB}}

In 2019, Skarstein qualified to represent Norway at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo after winning the gold medal in the PR1 women's single sculls event at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.{{Cite news |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1084207/polianskyi-wins-pr1-single-sculls-title |title=Polianskyi and Skarstein claim PR1 single sculls titles at World Rowing Championships |last=Patrick |first=O’Kane |date=1 September 2019 |work=InsideTheGames.biz |access-date=8 January 2020}} She won the gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2020 Summer Paralympics with a time of 10.56,88. In 2023, Skarstein set a new world record in the women's single sculls with the time of 9.47,83 at the World Rowing Cup in Varese. She won the silver medal in the women's single sculls at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.{{Cite web |last=Laursen |first=Henrik Haug |last2=Stenberg |first2=Morten |date=2024-09-01 |title=Paralympics i Paris 2024: Birgit Skarstein tok sølv i roing |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/paralympics-i-paris-2024_-birgit-skarstein-tok-solv-i-roing-1.17025696 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}

She announced her retirement on 1 January 2025. {{Cite web |last=Arntzen |first=Mats |last2=Christiansen |first2=Anders K. |date=2025-01-01 |title=Birgit Skarstein legger opp: – Jeg gleder meg til neste del av livet |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/Ppq9q0/birgit-skarstein-legger-opp-jeg-gleder-meg-til-neste-del-av-livet |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=VG |language=no}}

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,{{Cite web |title=Her er Oslo Aps nye bystyregruppe |url=https://oslo.arbeiderpartiet.no/nyheter/her-er-oslo-aps-nye-bystyregruppe/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=Arbeiderpartiet |language=nb}} been a member of the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board{{Cite web |title=Tidlegare Bioteknologiråd |url=https://www.bioteknologiradet.no/om-oss/nemndsmedlemmer/tidlegare-nemnder/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=Bioteknologirådet |language=nb-NO}} and World Economic Forum's Global Shapers, elected as a member of Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon's SIKT-alumni,{{Cite web |title=Deltakere 2022 – SIKT-konferansen |url=https://sikt.org/deltakere-2022 |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=sikt.org |language=nb-NO}} 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.{{Cite web |date=17 August 2020 |title=Birgit Skarstein skal være med i "Skal vi danse": – Jeg måtte ta noen runder før jeg sa ja |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/i/jd8zm9/birgit-skarstein-skal-vaere-med-i-skal-vi-danse-jeg-maatte-ta-noen-runder-foer-jeg-sa-ja |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=aftenposten.no |language=nb}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Røssland|first1=Vilde Holta|last2=Solberg|first2=Trine|date=24 October 2020|title=Birgit Skarstein ute av "Skal vi danse"|trans-title=Birgit Skarstein out of 'Skal vi danse'|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/12-95-3424036209|work=Nettavisen|language=no|access-date=10 June 2024}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Laget bok for barn om Birgit Skarstein |url=https://www.klartale.no/kultur/2021/11/05/laget-bok-for-barn-om-birgit-skarstein/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=Klar Tale |date=5 November 2021 |language=no}}

Skarstein is also an ambassador for MOT, Stiftelsen VI, and Right To Play.{{Cite web |title=Birgit Skarstein |url=https://www.mot.no/mot-ambassadorene/birgit-skarstein/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=MOT Norge |language=nb-NO}}{{Cite web |title=Ambassadører |url=https://www.stiftelsenvi.no/ambassadrer |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=Stiftelsen Vi |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Birgit Skarstein |url=http://www.righttoplay.no/nb/partnere-/birgit-skarstein/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |website=righttoplay.no |language=nb}}

Awards

In 2019, Skarstein was awarded Egebergs Ærespris for her efforts and contribution in multiple sports.{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.snl.no/Egebergs_%C3%A6respris |title=Egebergs ærespris |last=Bryhn |first=Rolf |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |language=no |access-date=8 May 2023}} In 2021, she was awarded the Peer Gynt Prize.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2021 |title=Birgit Skarstein er Årets Peer Gynt: – Det er stas |url=https://www.vg.no/i/zgKJp5 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=vg.no |language=nb}}

Personal life

Skarstein is close friends with dancer Helene Spilling, with the pair having met on Skal vi danse.{{Cite web |last=Justad |first=Stig H. |date=6 April 2023 |title=- Hun betyr så mye for meg |url=https://www.seher.no/kjendis/hun-betyr-sa-mye-for-meg/78887069 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Se og Hør |language=no}}{{Cite web |last=Løland |first=Tuva Mathilde |date=21 June 2023 |title=Birgit Skarstein droppet kjendisfest for å støtte Helene Spilling: – Viktigere for meg |url=https://www.nettavisen.no/5-95-1174973 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Nettavisen |language=no}} In April 2025, she announced her engagement to her partner Christian Semb.{{Cite web |last=Ingebrethsen |first=Henrik |date=2025-04-05 |title=Birgit Skarstein er forlovet |url=https://www.nettavisen.no/kjendis/brigit-skarstein-er-forlovet/s/5-95-2372098 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Nettavisen |language=no}} In June 2025, the couple announced that they are expecting their first child.{{Cite web |last=Fure |first=Eirik |date=2025-06-04 |title=Birgit Skarstein er gravid – venter sitt første barn med forloveden Christian Semb |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/birgit-skarstein-er-gravid-_-venter-sitt-forste-barn-med-forloveden-christian-semb-1.17391456 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}