Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi
Country	Finland
Born	Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen (1955-09-10) 10 September 1955 (age 69) Simpele, South Karelia, Finland
Spouse(s)	Harri Kirvesniemi ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 2011)​
Ski club	Simpeleen Urheilijat
World Cup career
Seasons	10 – (1982–1985, 1988–1989, 1991–1994)
Individual wins	11
Team wins	1
Indiv. podiums	27
Team podiums	8
Indiv. starts	64
Team starts	15
Overall titles	2 – (1983, 1984)
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Finland Olympic Games Gold 1984 Sarajevo 5 km Gold 1984 Sarajevo 10 km Gold 1984 Sarajevo 20 km Bronze 1984 Sarajevo 4 × 5 km relay Bronze 1988 Calgary 4 × 5 km relay Bronze 1994 Lillehammer 5 km classical Bronze 1994 Lillehammer 30 km classical World Championships Gold 1978 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Gold 1989 Lahti 10 km classical Gold 1989 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay Silver 1985 Seefeld 5 km Silver 1985 Seefeld 10 km Silver 1989 Lahti 15 km classical Silver 1991 Val di Fiemme 5 km classical Silver 1993 Falun 15 km classical

Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (born Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen on September 10, 1955) is a famous former Finnish cross-country skier. She is known for her amazing success in the 1980s and 1990s.

Marja-Liisa's Amazing Career

Marja-Liisa was a huge star at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. She won all three individual cross-country skiing races: the 5 km, 10 km, and 20 km events! She also helped Finland win a bronze medal in the relay race. This made her the most successful athlete at those Winter Olympics.

She continued her success at later Olympic Games:

• At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, she won another bronze medal in the relay race.
• At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, she earned two more bronze medals in the 5 km and 30 km races.

Marja-Liisa also had great results at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. She won three gold medals:

• In the 10 km race in 1989.
• In the 4 × 5 km relay race in 1978 and 1989.

She also won five silver medals at the World Championships in different races between 1985 and 1993. In 1989, she won the 20 km double pursuit race at the Holmenkollen ski festival in Norway.

Holmenkollen Medal and Family Ties

In 1989, Marja-Liisa was given the Holmenkollen medal. This is a very special award for skiers. Her husband, Harri Kirvesniemi, who was also a cross-country skier, received the same medal in 1998. They were the third married couple to both win this important award.

Marja-Liisa and Harri are also the only married couple to have both competed in six Olympic Games. They are among only eight Finnish athletes who have done this!

Olympic Games Results

Marja-Liisa won 7 medals at the Olympic Games: 3 gold and 4 bronze.

World Championships Results

Marja-Liisa won 8 medals at the World Championships: 3 gold and 5 silver.

World Cup Success

Marja-Liisa was also very successful in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. She won the overall World Cup title twice, in the 1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons. She had 11 individual victories and stood on the podium (finished in the top three) 27 times in individual races. She also helped her team achieve 1 victory and 8 podium finishes in relay races.

See also

• List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games