Kaisa Mäkäräinen
Encyclopedia
Kaisa Leena Mäkäräinen is a Finnish biathlete, who currently competes for Kontiolahden Urheilijat. Outside of sports, Mäkäräinen is currently studying to be a Physics teacher at the University of Eastern Finland
in Joensuu
. Her team coach is Jonne Kähkönen, while Jarmo Punkkinen is her ski coach and Asko Nuutinen her shooting coach.
in Antholz
, where she placed eighth in the individual 15 and seventh in the mass start events. At the 2008 Biathlon World Championships
in Östersund
, she was 15th in the mass start. During the 2007-08 Biathlon World Cup
, she made it to the podium twice, the first time when she placed second in the sprint at Pokljuka
, Slovenia
and third in the pursuit at Ruhpolding
, Germany
. During the 2008–09 Biathlon World Cup
, she has steadily risen in the rankings and on she placed second during the pursuit event and third in the mass start after Iourieva
and Jonsson
at Antholz
.
During the 2010–11 Biathlon World Cup
she made a strong start right after the kick-off stages and caught up with then-leaders of the World Cup total score, Helena Ekholm and Anna Carin Zidek of Sweden and continued to dominate the filed as she reeled off six top-three finishes in a span of three WC stages, from Östersund
to Pokljuka
. She lost her yellow bib to Andrea Henkel
of Germany after Ruhpolding but managed to regain it at the Biathlon World Championships 2011
in Khanty-Mansiysk finishing second in the sprint and earning her career-first medal. Mäkäräinen is the second Finnish female to medal in biathlon and the first one to do it since 1987 when Tuija Vuoksiala placed third in the Biathlon World Championships 1987
individual. She is also the first Finnish biathlete to medal at the Biathlon Wold Championships since 2003, as eight years have passed since Paavo Puurunen
's bronze in the Biathlon World Championships 2003
pursuit.
Next day, on March 6, 2011, on the final loop of the pursuit at the Biathlon World Championships 2011
Mäkäräinen managed to pull away from Magdalena Neuner
largely due to the Finn's flawless shooting, while the German had two misses in the final standing stage. Mäkäräinen had more than 20 sec. lead over Neuner and she burst into tears after crossing the finishing line as she claimed the first Finnish female World Champion title in the history of biathlon.
(As of the 21 March 2011) *still not up to date
at Otepää
in both the 7.5 km sprint and the 10 km pursuit.
University of Eastern Finland
The University of Eastern Finland is a university in Finland with three campuses in Joensuu, Kuopio, and Savonlinna. It was formed in 2010 by a merger of two previously independent universities.- History :...
in Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
. Her team coach is Jonne Kähkönen, while Jarmo Punkkinen is her ski coach and Asko Nuutinen her shooting coach.
Career
Kaisa Mäkäräinen started training for the biathlon in 2003. In 2004, she made the Finnish National Team. 2005 saw Mäkäräinen compete at the Biathlon World Championships for the first time. Her best placings in the Biathlon World Championships have occurred at the 2007 World ChampionshipsBiathlon World Championships 2007
The 41st Biathlon World Championships were held in 2007 for the fourth time in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy from February 2 to February 11.-Opening ceremony:* Date / Time: Fri February 3, 2007 / 20:00 CET...
in Antholz
Rasen-Antholz
Rasen-Antholz is a municipality in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 60 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.-Geography:...
, where she placed eighth in the individual 15 and seventh in the mass start events. At the 2008 Biathlon World Championships
Biathlon World Championships 2008
The 42nd Biathlon World Championships were held in Östersund in Jämtland in central Sweden from February 8 to February 17, 2008. It was the second time Östersund was hosting the Biathlon World Championships, the first being in 1970...
in Östersund
Östersund
Östersund is an urban area in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the...
, she was 15th in the mass start. During the 2007-08 Biathlon World Cup
2007-08 Biathlon World Cup
The 2007–08 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the International Biathlon Union...
, she made it to the podium twice, the first time when she placed second in the sprint at Pokljuka
Pokljuka
Pokljuka is a foresty plateau at the altitude of around 1300 metres, situated partly in the municipality of Bled and partly in municipality of Bohinj in northwestern Slovenia. It is part of Triglav national park...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and third in the pursuit at Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding
Ruhpolding is a municipality of the Traunstein district in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the south of the Chiemgau region in the Alps. Ruhpolding has a population of approximately 6,400....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. During the 2008–09 Biathlon World Cup
2008–09 Biathlon World Cup
The 2008–09 Biathlon World Cup is a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the International Biathlon Union...
, she has steadily risen in the rankings and on she placed second during the pursuit event and third in the mass start after Iourieva
Ekaterina Iourieva
Ekaterina Valeryevna Iourieva is a Russian biathlete and 2008 world champion in the 15 km individual. She was known for her outstanding shooting speed. On February 13th, 2009 IBU announced Iourieva, as well as two other Russian team members Olympic champion Albina Akhatova and world champion...
and Jonsson
Helena Jonsson
Helena Ekholm is a Swedish biathlete. She was born in Helgum, Sollefteå Municipality. She is the reigning world champion in pursuit. She also won the Women's Biathlon World Cup in the 2008-09 season....
at Antholz
Rasen-Antholz
Rasen-Antholz is a municipality in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 60 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.-Geography:...
.
During the 2010–11 Biathlon World Cup
2010–11 Biathlon World Cup
The 2010–11 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the International Biathlon Union...
she made a strong start right after the kick-off stages and caught up with then-leaders of the World Cup total score, Helena Ekholm and Anna Carin Zidek of Sweden and continued to dominate the filed as she reeled off six top-three finishes in a span of three WC stages, from Östersund
Östersund
Östersund is an urban area in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the...
to Pokljuka
Pokljuka
Pokljuka is a foresty plateau at the altitude of around 1300 metres, situated partly in the municipality of Bled and partly in municipality of Bohinj in northwestern Slovenia. It is part of Triglav national park...
. She lost her yellow bib to Andrea Henkel
Andrea Henkel
Andrea Henkel is a German biathlete and the younger sister of Manuela Henkel, a successful cross-country skier. She trains at SV Großbreitenbach...
of Germany after Ruhpolding but managed to regain it at the Biathlon World Championships 2011
Biathlon World Championships 2011
The 44th Biathlon World Championships was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from March 3 to March 13 2011.There was a total of 11 competitions: sprint, pursuit, individual, mass start, and relay races for men and women, and mixed relay...
in Khanty-Mansiysk finishing second in the sprint and earning her career-first medal. Mäkäräinen is the second Finnish female to medal in biathlon and the first one to do it since 1987 when Tuija Vuoksiala placed third in the Biathlon World Championships 1987
Biathlon World Championships 1987
The 23rd Biathlon World Championships for men were held in 1987 for the second time in Lake Placid, USA. The 4th women's world championships were held in Lahti, Finland.-10 km sprint:-20 km individual:-4 x 7.5km relay:-5 km sprint:...
individual. She is also the first Finnish biathlete to medal at the Biathlon Wold Championships since 2003, as eight years have passed since Paavo Puurunen
Paavo Puurunen
Paavo Puurunen is a Finnish biathlete. Puurunen debuted on the World Cup scene in the 1995/96 season. His best overall placing is from 1997/98 season when he finished 13th. He won his lone world cup victory in Pokljuka in 2001, in the World Championship, on the 20 km...
's bronze in the Biathlon World Championships 2003
Biathlon World Championships 2003
The 38th Biathlon World Championships were held in 2003 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.-10 km sprint:-12,5 km pursuit:-15 km mass start:-20 km individual:-4 x 7.5 km relay:-7.5 km sprint:-10 km pursuit:...
pursuit.
Next day, on March 6, 2011, on the final loop of the pursuit at the Biathlon World Championships 2011
Biathlon World Championships 2011
The 44th Biathlon World Championships was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from March 3 to March 13 2011.There was a total of 11 competitions: sprint, pursuit, individual, mass start, and relay races for men and women, and mixed relay...
Mäkäräinen managed to pull away from Magdalena Neuner
Magdalena Neuner
Magdalena "Lena" Neuner is a German professional biathlete. She is the most successful woman of all time at Biathlon World Championships and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. At the age of 21, she became the youngest Overall World Cup winner in the history of the International Biathlon Union...
largely due to the Finn's flawless shooting, while the German had two misses in the final standing stage. Mäkäräinen had more than 20 sec. lead over Neuner and she burst into tears after crossing the finishing line as she claimed the first Finnish female World Champion title in the history of biathlon.
Standings in the Biathlon World Cup
| Standings | Individual | Sprint | Pursuit | Mass Start | Relay | Mixed Relay | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st place | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 2nd place | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 3rd place | 3 | 2 | 5 | ||||
| Top 10 | 4 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 49 |
| Points | 11 | 41 | 26 | 22 | 16 | 9 | 125 |
| Starts | 18 | 56 | 35 | 23 | 17 | 9 | 158 |
(As of the 21 March 2011) *still not up to date
Roller-ski biathlon
In the summer of 2007, Mäkäräinen won the world champion in roller-ski biathlonBiathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
at Otepää
Otepää
Otepää is a town in Valga County, southern Estonia, it's the administrative centre of Otepää Parish. Town has a population of 2,189 . Otepää is a popular skiing resort, popularly known as the "winter capital" of Estonia...
in both the 7.5 km sprint and the 10 km pursuit.