The sports year that ended was excellent for Finns. Success came on a wide front. Urheilu brought together the most memorable Finnish sports moments of the year.
Kerttu Niskanen’s first individual prize medal
Kerttu Niskanen the long-time dream of a personal prize medal finally came true, when the Konkari skier finished second in the traditional 10-kilometer intermediate start race with a wonderful ski. Krista Pärmäkoski completed the Finnish celebration with his bronze.
The last time two Finns had reached the podium at the Olympic level in the same race was in 2002 (Sampa Lajunen & Jaakko Tallus).
The value of Niskanen’s medal was increased by the fact that only a year earlier he had to miss the World Championships due to a stress fracture in his leg. In Beijing, Niskanen faced the hardest blow of his career and fired another 30 km free in the race with a ferocious final push for a surprise bronze.
Caretaker Jari Räsänen encouraged Kerttu Niskas in the intermediate start race in Beijing.
Iivo Niskanen’s third Olympic gold
Iivo Niskanen was just 0.2 seconds away from the bronze medal in the 15 km traditional time trial at the 2014 Olympics. The 22-year-old Finn decided that in eight years he will be the Olympic winner of the trip.
On February 11, Niskanen answered the call and scored his third Olympic victory with an overwhelming performance. The games were full of color, when the skiing great reached bronze in the combined race and Joni Mäen with a traditional pair print for silver.
Niskanen’s top year was spiced up by third place in the overall cup, victory in the distance cup and third place in the Tour de Ski.
Watch the final moments of Iivo Niskanen’s Olympic gold in skiing.
Lions double gold
The year was 2022 Jukka Jalonen one celebration for the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team he coaches. In February, Leijonat achieved its first Olympic victory by defeating Russia 2–1 in the final match.
In May, Finland won its fourth world championship and its first medal at home games in Tampere. In an exciting final, the Lions beat Canada Sakari Manninen with a goal in overtime with a score of 4–3.
Served as captain in both competitions Valtteri Filppula became the first Finnish ice hockey player to join the three-gold club with the Stanley Cup, the Olympic gold and the world championship.
Valtteri Filppula and Jussi Olkinuora’s interview after the world championship.
Another Paralympic gold for Suur-Hamari
Matti Suur-Hamari fell to his second consecutive gold medal in snowboard cross in Beijing. The 36-year-old boarder won every landing in the games.
For Suur-Hamar, the games were a huge success, because he won silver in the banked slalom.
What made the championship particularly meaningful for Suur-Hamar was that the last few years were challenging for him. In November 2019, his longtime coach and friend Mikko Wendel died of a sudden illness. Suur-Hamari said in the summer that he will end his career.
Santeri Kiiveri on the other hand, he won gold in the super slalom and silver in the super alpine combined. They were Finland’s first medals in Paralympic alpine skiing.
See Matti Suur-Hamar’s winning score.
Stanley Cup for Rantanen and Lehkonen
Finland got two new Stanley Cup winners in the summer, when Mikko Rantanen and Arttu Lehkonen represented by the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won two consecutive championships, in the 6th final game.
Lehkonen, who was brought to the team from Denver during the transfer season, rose to the spotlight in the last match by scoring the winning goal that decided the championship.
Rantanen, who was part of Colorado’s core players for years, was also in his element in the playoffs, finishing with 25 points in 20 games. The work animal Lehkonen paced with his 14 points.
Artturi Lehkonen scored the winning goal in the 6th match that decided the Stanley Cup final series.
Wilma Murro’s European Championship
Wilma Murron the story in the pole vault final of the European Championships in Munich was undoubtedly one of the most moving Finnish sports moments of the year. Known as a super talent, Murto grew into new spheres as an athlete during the final.
The junior ME woman improved her Finnish record three times and by no less than 13 cents. The latest SE jump 485 is a world-class result that has always taken a World Cup or Olympic medal.
Murro’s European Championship was the first medal for Finnish athletics other than a javelin athlete in 16 years.
See all of Wilma Murro’s record jumps in the EC finals.
Topi Raitanen’s European Championship
Jukka Keskisalo did it in 2006. Now it was Raitanen’s top turn. Raitanen, who is already known as a hard race athlete, showed his tactical maturity and his ability to fight in the 3,000 meter steeplechase final.
The European Championship was made even tastier by the fact that a month earlier the World Championships went wrong due to health problems. Great rise.
In addition to Murro and Raitanen, European medals were won by those who jumped Kristiina Mäkelä and cast for bronze Lassi Etelätalo. In terms of medals, the games were the best for Finnish track and field athletes in 40 years.
Watch Topi Raitanen’s EC gold run.
Topi Raitanen’s coach Janne Ukonmaanaho got into a wild roar after the European Championship gold run.
Lauri Markkanen’s top year
Finnish basketball star Lauri Markkanen rose to a completely new level this year. Markkanen was in top form when Finland advanced to the top eight in the European Championships for the first time in 55 years.
The 25-year-old Finnish player was the best scorer at the European Championship when the points scored are added together. The biggest star moment was in the quarterfinals against Croatia, when Markkanen scored 43 points. In the semifinals, Susijengi gave tough resistance to Spain, who eventually won the European championship of the Games.
Before the European Championships, Susijengi did perhaps an even harder act, when Finland advanced as the first European team to the World Championships to be played in 2023.
Markkanen, who was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Utah Jazz, has also played in the current NBA season. Among other things, he has forged his single game record for points (38) and has scored 30 points or more in many games.
See all Lauri Markkanen’s baskets against Croatia.
Kalle Rovanperä is the youngest world champion
Kalle from Rovanperä became the youngest rally world champion of all time at the age of 22 in October. Before Rovanperä, the title of the youngest world champion was held by the deceased Colin McRaewho achieved the championship at the age of 27.
The Toyota driver, who drove a perfect season, already secured the World Championship title in the third place in the last race in New Zealand. Rovanperä achieved six victories and eight podium places during the season.
Watch Kalle Rovanperä’s finish in the World Rally Championship in New Zealand.