Veli-Matti Lindström

Veli -Matti Lindström Olavi (* November 15, 1983 in Nastola ) is a Finnish ski jumper. He lives in Lahti and starts for the club Lahti Hiihtoseura.

Career

Lindström started in 1988 at the age of four years with the skiing. In 1995 he was appointed as a twelve- year-old in the National team squad and made ​​his debut on 1 January 1999 at the age of 15 years at the New Year 's event in Garmisch - Partenkirchen Ski Jumping World Cup. In the same year he won the bronze medal at the Junior World Cup. However, it took until 24 November 2000 until he won his first World Cup points in Kuopio.

Lindström was in season 2000/2001 Finnish Champion and later even Junior World Champion in singles and with the team. He also reached the 5th place on the normal hill. In the same year he won his first podium finish at the ski flying competition in Oberstdorf, when he finished 2nd place. When ski flying in Planica he could with the team celebrate his first World Cup victory, the World Cup, he finished in 18th place.

In the 2001/2002 season, he was also with the team that wins on the large hill in Lahti and win again in ski flying in Planica. He also participated in the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in part, documented in the individual competition on the normal hill to 5th place and won the silver medal with the team behind the German team. In the Ski Flying World Cup in Harrachov he finished fourth in singles. His best individual result of the season was a 3rd place in Willingen. Overall World Cup 2001/2002 he finished 19th place

Also in the 2002/2003 season he won the ski flying in Planica with the team again and was 22 in the World Cup. He also had on the same day on which his team-mate Matti Hautamäki in Planica Ski Flying aufstellte the then - world record of 231 meters, this can almost beat, but Lindström had to dig into the snow after landing at 232.5 meters. In the summer of 2003, he also won two third places in the Summer Grand Prix, which he finished in eighth place overall.

The 2003/2004 season started for the Finns with two third places at the Nordic Opening in Kuusamo, it could also win the second place podium also at the third competition of the Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck. In the Ski Flying World Championships in Planica he won the silver medal in the team competition. His best World Cup season, the Finn retired in 15th place overall.

Prior to the 2005/2006 season he was injured severely, and came into the season only in ski jumping Continental Cup for use. At the last competition of the season in Planica he belonged to the Finnish squad, but failed to qualify for the competition itself.

The 2006/2007 season began for Lindström with a surprising 4th place in Kuusamo, whereupon Lindström got a place in the Finnish World Cup team again. He lost this place but after results are insufficient, the mid- season 2007/2008.

In the 2008/2009 season, the Finn was temporarily used as a sixth man in the World Cup team, but was unable to convince his results.

In summer 2009, Lindström announced on his website, to suffer for a long time on a protracted infection that made him by breathing difficulties and an increased pulse even at rest the training impossible. Although he started at the beginning of the winter season 2009/2010 at the Continental Cup in Rovaniemi, ranked there but the last place and jumped since illness any more competitions. In December 2009, he gave about the blog on his website known, the antibiotic therapy was unsuccessful and no one really knows, on what kind of infection he was suffering, but the therapy would be continued, and he finds the time being in a competition break.

In summer 2010, Lindström took then for the first time in competitions at national level, the so-called Finnjumping Cup, part. Chance he has since been again in the Continental Cup on, in which he jumped in February 2011 in the U.S. Iron Mountain twice in the points. In the Finnish Championships in September 2011 in Lahti, he was able to win with the team of Lahti Hiihtoseura the team competition.

Private

Lindström came in 2003 with his Abitur in Nastopoli. In addition to the ski jumping he studied sports with a focus on sports consulting Vierumaeki. Since 2008 he has been romantically involved with canoeist Niina Huhta.