Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi

Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (née Hämäläinen; born 10 September 1955) is a Finnish former cross-country skier.

Career She was the big figure at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, winning all three individual cross-country skiing events (5, 10 and 20 km), and a bronze medal for Finland in the relay. In the process, she became the most successful athlete at the 1984 Winter Olympics. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, she won another relay bronze medal, and at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, she won two more bronze medals in the 5 and 30 km.

At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, Kirvesniemi won three golds in the 10 km (1989) and 4 × 5 km relay (1978, 1989), and five silvers in the 5 km (1985, 1991), 10 km (1985) and 15 km (1989, 1993). She also won the 20 km double pursuit at the 1989 Holmenkollen ski festival.

Kirvesniemi won the Holmenkollen medal in 1989. Her husband, Harri, would be awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1998. They were the third husband-and-wife pair that won this prestigious honor. They are the only married couple to have both competed at six Olympics, and are among the only eight Finns to have done so - the others being Janne Ahonen (ski jumping), Raimo Helminen (ice hockey), Teemu Selänne (ice hockey), Kyra Kyrklund (dressage), Juha Hirvi (shooting), and Hannu Manninen (Nordic combined).

Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games 7 medals – (3 gold, 4 bronze) Year Age 5 km 10 km 15 km Pursuit 20 km 30 km 4 × 5 km relay 1976 20 — 22 — 1980 24 19 18 5 1984 28 Gold Gold Gold Bronze 1988 32 5 9 11 Bronze 1992 36 31 6 —4 1994 38 Bronze — 13 Bronze4

World Championships 8 medals – (3 gold, 5 silver) Year Age 5 km 10 km classical 10 km freestyle 15 km Pursuit 20 km 30 km 4 × 5 km relay 1978 22 — 23 16 Gold 1982 26 17 11 17 4 1985 29 Silver Silver 12 4 1989 33 Gold — Silver 8 Gold 1991 35 Silver — 12 — 4 1993 37 14 Silver DNS — 4

World Cup Season titles 2 titles – (2 overall)

Season standings Season Age Overall 1982 26 18 1983 27 1984 28 1985 29 10 1988 32 1989 33 6 1991 35 17 1992 36 10 1993 37 8 1994 38 10

Individual podiums 11 victories 27 podiums

Team podiums

1 victory 8 podiums

Note: Until the 1999 World Championships and the 1994 Olympics, World Championship and Olympic races were included in the World Cup scoring system.