Canadian-Estonian Donates More Than €2 Million to Tartu University
A Canadian-Estonian has left a donation of more than €2 million to the University of Tartu’s Institute of Estonian Language following her death. The money will be used for research and to create a scholarship fund. The inheritance was left to the university by Kadri Rõuk, a teacher in Canada. She died last year at the age of 84 and did not have any children or other close family. Kadri’s parents Nikolai and Gerda Rõuk both studied at the University of Tartu before fleeing to Germany in 1944. They later settled in Calgary where Nikolai became the co-founder and president of the local Estonian Society. (Pg 1)
Estonian Freestyle Skier Kelly Sildaru Wins Bronze
Estonia won its first Winter Olympic medal in 12 years when freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru took the bronze in the Women’s Slopestyle event on February 15. Sildaru finished third with 82.06 points, Mathilde Gremaud won gold for Switzerland with 86.56 points and silver went to Eileen Gu of China (86.23 points). Sildaru, who was also one of Estonia’s two flag-bearers at the opening ceremony, posted 82.06 points on the first run of three and initially led. Her second attempt saw her lose a ski, a problem that had dogged her in the Big Air event last week, where she failed to qualify for the finals. On February 17, her 20th birthday, Sildaru qualified for the half-pipe finals. (Pg 1)
9th Spot for Ilves in Nordic Combined Following Isolation in Beijing
Upon arriving at the Winter Olympics, Estonian Nordic Combined skier Kristjan Ilves tested positive for Covid-19 and spent the next 10 days in the isolation hotel. On February 15, three days after his release, he managed to jump an incredible 140 meters on the large ski jumping hill, putting him in second place. He ultimately finished in 9th place overall following the 10 km cross-country ski, just behind Norway’s Jarl Magnus Riiber, who was in isolation during the same time. (Pg 6)
