Bente Kristine Grønli (born 25 March 1956 in Trondheim - died 20 January 1996) was a Norwegian disability athlete who participated in the Paralympic Winter Games once and Paralympic Summer Games three times for Norway. She has won a total of 10 medals in swimming and ice sledge speed racing. She participated in several sports, but it was swimming that was her favorite. Bente worked as a sport science consultant at the Norwegian Handicap Sports Association for 15 years.
Grønli was paralyzed by Poliomyelitis when she was three years old.Aftenposten - Obituary (1 February 1996, p.19)
Honours Paralympic Summer Games, 1972 Silver in swimming, 50 m freestyle technique Silver in swimming, 75 m medley Bronze in swimming, 50 m back Paralympic Summer Games, 1976 Gold in swimming, 50 m back 1980 Winter Paralympics Silver in ice sledge speed racing, 100 m Silver in ice sledge speed racing, 500 m Silver in ice sledge speed racing, 800 m Paralympic Summer Games, 1984 Bronze in swimming, 50 m butterfly Bronze in swimming, 400 m freestyle technique Bronze in swimming, 200 m medley
At the Paralympic Winter Games in 1980, she won gold in Class 1 wheelchair dance performance together with Thor E. Kleppe. She also had good results in other international competitions in wheelchair dancing.
References