The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has awarded Pro Sports prize to Kyra Kyrklund and three other top athletes. Besides Kyrklund, world champion wrestler Tapio Sipilä, volleyball player Jouni Parkkali and world champion shooter Sirpa Vesanen (née Ylönen) also received this year's Pro Sports Prize.
The awards were presented by Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, the Finnish Minister of Education and Cultur in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday 7 December 2015. Besides a tropy, the award comes with a 20,000 euro cash prize.
The Pro Sports Prize was established in the year 2000 and is conferred on a Finnish athlete in recognition of an outstanding sport career or achievement in sport.
Kyra Kyrklund is a world famous dressage rider and trainer. She has participated six times in the Olympic Games and was also nominated for Sydney and Athens, but could not participate due to horse health issues. Kyrklund has trained numerous horses to international top Grand Prix level.
Kyrklund is born on 30 November 1951 in Helsinki, Finland. She is married to British dressage trainer Richard White and they live in Coolham, Great Britain where they run their own training center Snow Hill Farm. Kyrklund currently coaches Sweden's elite Grand Prix and Under 25 riders. She is the chair of the International Dressage Riders Club and is a former member of the FEI Dressage Committee.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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