Aki Karvonen
Aki Karvonen ( born August 31, 1957 in Valtimo ) is a former Finnish cross-country skiers. Between 1982 and 1989, won six medals at Karvonen World Championships and Olympic Games.
Life and career
Shortly before the Nordic World Ski Championships 1982 in Oslo, Norway took Karvonen in Reit im Winkl first part in a World Cup competition. About the 15-kilometer distance he could occupy the 15th place. He was nominated for the World Cup then, where he reached over the 30 km freestyle and 10th place on the 15-kilometer freestyle on the 14th Place. These results secured him a place in the Finnish season, which could at the same time win the GDR Season the bronze medal. Two years later, at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, he won with the Finnish relay turn the bronze medal. But even in the individual competitions, Karvonen could decorate with medals. About 15 km classic, he won the silver medal behind Gunde Svan and about 50 km classic behind Thomas Wassberg Svan and the bronze medal. As a fifth the 30 km free style, he just missed another medal. Since the competitions of Sarajevo were also counted for the World Cup, Karvonen was able to record his best finish in the overall standings of the World Cup at the end of the 1983/84 season with eleventh place.
In the Nordic World Ski Championships 1985 Karvonen was the first time at a major event without a medal. About 30 km classic, he finished sixth, about 15 km classic twelfth and with the Finnish season he finished fourth. Two years later at the Nordic World Ski Championships 1987 in Oberstdorf, he won the 30 km classic behind Wassberg again a silver medal. The successes of recent years could not repeat Karvonen at the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary in 1988. About 15 km classic he was only 20 and about twice the distance of only 19 Whereupon he was first not nominated for the relay competition. Also at the Nordic World Ski Championships 1989 in Lahti went home Karvonen at the start and missed the victory of his compatriot Harri Kirvesniemi about 15 km classic in fourth just his fourth individual medal at a major event. In the relay competition Karvonen almost able to celebrate its first world title, but the Finnish team was beaten by one second the Swedish squadron. After the World Cup ended Karvonen his international career.