Harri Kirvesniemi
Encyclopedia
Harri Tapani Kirvesniemi (born 10 May 1958 in Mikkeli
) is a Finnish
former cross country skier who competed from 1980 to 2001. During his career he won six Olympic medals (all bronzes), and also the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival
in 2000. He was born at Mikkeli
.
His biggest successes though were at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
, where he earned a total of 8 medals. This included one gold (15 km: 1989), three silvers (4 x 10 km: 1989, 1995. 1997), and four bronzes (15 km: 1982, 30 km: 1985, 4 x 10 km: 1982 (shared with East Germany), 1991). Kirvesniemi ended his competition career after being caught in a doping
scandal at the 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Lahti
.
In 1998, he earned the Holmenkollen medal
(shared with Fred Børre Lundberg
, Larissa Lazutina, and Alexey Prokourorov
). He is married to Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi
, who won the Holmenkollen medal in 1989. This makes them the third husband-wife team to ever win the Holmenkollen medal.
Presently Kirvesniemi works as the Plant Manager and Board Member at Karhu Ski.
Mikkeli
Mikkeli is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
) is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
former cross country skier who competed from 1980 to 2001. During his career he won six Olympic medals (all bronzes), and also the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
in 2000. He was born at Mikkeli
Mikkeli
Mikkeli is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
.
His biggest successes though were at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
, where he earned a total of 8 medals. This included one gold (15 km: 1989), three silvers (4 x 10 km: 1989, 1995. 1997), and four bronzes (15 km: 1982, 30 km: 1985, 4 x 10 km: 1982 (shared with East Germany), 1991). Kirvesniemi ended his competition career after being caught in a doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
scandal at the 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2001 took place February 15–25, 2001 in Lahti, Finland for a record sixth time, previous events being held in 1926, 1938, 1958, 1978 and 1989...
in Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
.
In 1998, he earned the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
(shared with Fred Børre Lundberg
Fred Børre Lundberg
Fred Børre Lundberg is a former Nordic combined skier from Bardu, Norway...
, Larissa Lazutina, and Alexey Prokourorov
Alexey Prokourorov
Alexey Alexeyevich Prokurorov was a Soviet/Russian cross-country skier who competed in the late 1980s and 1990s for both the Soviet Union and Russia.Prokurorov was born in the village of Mishino of Vladimir Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union....
). He is married to Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi
Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi
Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi is a former Finnish cross country skier. She was the big figure at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, winning all three individual cross country skiing events , and a bronze medal for Finland in the relay...
, who won the Holmenkollen medal in 1989. This makes them the third husband-wife team to ever win the Holmenkollen medal.
Presently Kirvesniemi works as the Plant Manager and Board Member at Karhu Ski.
See also
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
- List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
- List of multiple Olympic medalists in one event