Estonian sports

The experience of success in a sports arena is the best way to overcome vices,
dissensions and domestic tensions and unite the nation as one.
In the Winter Olympics in Turin Estonian cross-country skiers Kristina Šmigun, Andrus
Veerpalu and Jaak Mae all had their time to shine. Estonia's Olympic team brought home
3 gold medals.
During the first Republic, wrestlers were the most well-known Estonian athletes and their
achievements were highlighted by the victories of Kristjan Palusalu, who won two gold
medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.
On the wheeled side of sport, Marko Märtin with his co-driver Michael Park have been
racing since 2002 when they got invited to the Ford team, where they soon became the
leaders of the team. A tragic crash on the roads of Wales killed Park though and ended
the bright-looking racing career of Marko Märtin.
Currently Marko Asmer is competing on the British HiTech team in British F3, which has
been a starting point for many F1 drivers. His fans believe that he too will soon move on
onto F1.
Erki Nool won the gold medal in the decathlon in 2000 Sydney Olympics. By now he has
moved into politics, but both javelin thrower Andrus Värnik and discus thrower Gerd
Kanter have taken his place as world-class athletes the folks at home can live along to.
Additionally, Margus Hunt became a world champion among under 20-year-old athletes in
2006. Kaire Leibak and Marek Niit also received gold medal in Beijing for triple jump and
200m run.
Indrek Pertelson and Alexei Budõlin have done well in judo: they both brought home a
bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Pertelson added another one to his collection in
2004 in Athens.
Sports do not only excite people, they can also play a significant role in promoting mutual
international friendship.