Finland won its first medal at the Rio Paralympics early Saturday morning Finnish time.
Javelinist Marjaana Heikkinen scored silver in the F34 class with her best throw of the season, 18.42 metres, on her third try.
The 49-year-old Heikkinen won bronze at the 2012 London Paralympics and gold at last summer's IPC Athletics European Championships in Italy. Her coach is Kimmo Kinnunen, who won the World Championship in 1991. She also competes in the shot put.
The women's javelin gold went to the favourite, China's Zou Lijuan. She set – and immediately broke – a new world record with throws of 21, 21.68 and 21.86 metres.
Taking the bronze was Germany's Frances Herrmann with a throw of 18.16 metres.
The Olympic games for athletes with disabilities goes on until Sunday, September 18. Finland is represented by 26 athletes, accompanied by two guide athletes. Finland earned one bronze medal at last month's Summer Olympic Games in Rio, its poorest showing ever.
