Jari Puikkonen
Encyclopedia
Jari Puikkonen (born June 25, 1959 in Lahti
) is a former Finnish
ski jumper who competed from 1977 to 1991. Puikkonen made his debut internationally in the Four Hills Tournament
competition in Oberstdorf
on December 30, 1977. He won his first World Cup victory at Innsbruck
in 1981. That year he finished third overall in the Four Hills Tournament and he won three more victories in the ski jumping World Cup to finish fifth overall. He also won three medals at the Winter Olympics with a gold in the team large lill (1988 Winter Olympics
), and bronze medals in both the individual normal hill (1984 Winter Olympics
) and the individual large hill (1980 Winter Olympics
).
Puikkonen's biggest successes were at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
, where he won seven medals, including four golds (individual large hill: 1989, team large hill: 1984
, 1985, 1989), two silvers (individual normal hill: 1982, individual large hill: 1985), and one bronze (team large hill: 1982). He also won a gold medal at the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1981
.
Puikkonen retired after the 1990-91 season.
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...
) is a former 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...
ski jumper who competed from 1977 to 1991. Puikkonen made his debut internationally in the Four Hills Tournament
Four Hills Tournament
The Four Hills Tournament is composed of four Ski Jumping World Cup events and has taken place in Germany and Austria each year since 1952.The Four Hills Tournament champion is the one who gets the most points over the four events...
competition in Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
on December 30, 1977. He won his first World Cup victory at Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
in 1981. That year he finished third overall in the Four Hills Tournament and he won three more victories in the ski jumping World Cup to finish fifth overall. He also won three medals at the Winter Olympics with a gold in the team large lill (1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
), and bronze medals in both the individual normal hill (1984 Winter Olympics
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
) and the individual large hill (1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
).
Puikkonen's biggest successes 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 won seven medals, including four golds (individual large hill: 1989, team large hill: 1984
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...
, 1985, 1989), two silvers (individual normal hill: 1982, individual large hill: 1985), and one bronze (team large hill: 1982). He also won a gold medal at the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1981
FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 1981
The FIS Ski-Flying World Ski Championships 1981 took place in Oberstdorf, West Germany for the second time. Oberstdorf hosted the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in 1973.-Individual:-Medal table:-References:* - accessed 25 November 2009....
.
Puikkonen retired after the 1990-91 season.