Name: Lera Doederlein
Sport: Nordic Skiing
Discipline(s):
Biathlon
Event(s): Sprint Biathlon, Middle-Distance Biathlon, Sprint Cross-Country, Middle-Distance Cross-Country
Classification: LW12
Height: 5-7
Weight: 130
DOB: 4/15/2003
Birthplace: Saratov, Russia
Hometown: Escondido, Calif.
High School: Classical Academy, Escondido, California '22
Paralympic Experience
- One-time Paralympian (2022)
- Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, 9th (sprint biathlon, middle-distance biathlon), 14th (sprint cross-country, middle-distance cross-country)
Personal:
Lera was born in Saratov, Russia with a congenital condition called Arthrogryposis of the lower extremities. Lera was adopted and came to the U.S. in 2005. Until she was 14 years-old she relied on leg braces and hand crutches for mobility. At 14 years-old she made the decision to have both of her legs amputated for better mobility and better quality of life. ...Lera was at a camp for amputees and met Beth Ann Chamberlain, who thought she would be good at the sport. After a year, she attended a ski spec camp, loved it and never looked back....Lera is very active. She enjoys many sports including Para Nordic skiing, sled hockey, hand-cycling, adaptive surfing, wheelchair lacrosse and sitting volleyball....Her parents are David & Hiromi ‘Fami’ Doederlein and her siblings are Isaac, Keenan & Tori....Her full name is Valeria. ...Her hobbies include adaptive sports, Netflix and popcorn, PS4....Her sporting idols are Oksana Masters and Isaac Doederlein (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Featherweight, world ranked second). ...Her favorite thing about the sport is the speed and freedom. ...Her most memorable moment was when she participated in the 2019 USA/Canada Sled Hockey rivalry series....Lera would describe herself as determined, passionate and optimistic....In addition to Para Nordic Skiing and Biathlon, Lera has been actively training and competing in sled hockey as a member of USA Hockey Women’s Sled Development Team and San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey team. She has also been training in hand cycling as a member of CAF Women’s Handcycling Team. Lera's attitude is to try every sport at least once.
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