Harri Kirvesniemi
Harri Tapani Kirvesniemi ( born May 10, 1958 in Simpele / Finland ) is a former Finnish cross-country skiers. He is married to the former Finnish cross-country skier Marja- Liisa Hämäläinen.
He won in his career total of six Olympic bronze medals, five of them with the Finnish season in Lake Placid 1980, Sarajevo 1984, 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer and Nagano 1998. He also finished third in the 15 km race in 1984 in Sarajevo.
Also in World Championships he was successful. 1989 in Lahti, he became world champion in 15 km classic style. Bronze medals he won in 1982 and 1985, over 15 km of over 30 km. With the Finnish season he was runner-up three times (1989, 1995, 1997 ) and won two bronze medals (1982 and 1991). In 1998, he was ( his wife had this condition in 1989 ) with the Holmenkollen medal honored.
His career was over shadowed by the doping scandal in the Finnish team at the 2001 World Championships in Lahti. The Finnish season, which had initially reached the first place, was disqualified for doping. Harri Kirvesniemi also belonged to the doping convicted members this season.
Harri Kirvesniemi one of the few athletes who have participated in six Winter Olympics. Next to him, this was partly his wife Marja- Liisa Kirvesniemi, Jochen Behle and Georg Hackl.