Samppa Lajunen

Samppa Lajunen (born 23 April 1979 in Turku) is a retired Finnish Nordic combined athlete who competed during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Samppa Kalevi Lajunen
CountryFinland
Born (1979-04-23) 23 April 1979
Turku, Finland
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Ski clubJyväskylän Hiihtoseura
World Cup career
Seasons1995–2004
Individual wins20
Indiv. podiums55
Indiv. starts113
Overall titles2 (1997, 2000)
Medal record
Men's Nordic combined
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2002 Salt Lake City 15 km individual
Gold medal – first place2002 Salt Lake City 7.5 km sprint
Gold medal – first place2002 Salt Lake City 4 × 5 km team
Silver medal – second place1998 Nagano 15 km individual
Silver medal – second place1998 Nagano 4 × 5 km team
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1999 Ramsau4 × 5 km team
Silver medal – second place1997 Trondheim4 × 5 km team
Silver medal – second place1999 Ramsau15 km individual
Silver medal – second place2001 Lahti15 km individual
Silver medal – second place2001 Lahti7.5 km sprint
Bronze medal – third place2001 Lahti4 × 5 km team
Bronze medal – third place2003 Val di Fiemme15 km individual
Bronze medal – third place2003 Val di Fiemme4 × 5 km team

Athletic career

A winner of five Winter Olympic Games medals, his career highlight came at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City when Lajunen won all three gold medals in the Nordic combined events. He also won silver medals at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano in both the 15 km individual and 4 × 5 km team events.

Lajunen also found success at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, winning eight medals. This included one gold (4 × 5 km team: 1999), four silvers (15 km individual: 1999, 2001; 4 × 5 km team: 1997, 7.5 km sprint: 2001); and three bronzes (15 km individual: 2003, 4 × 5 km team: 2001, 2003)

Lajunen ended his career after the season 2003/2004 at a quite early age, 24 years old, and concentrated on his studies at the University of Jyväskylä. In the spring of 2007 he graduated with a Master's degree in Economics and Business Administration.

References


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