Anssi Koivuranta is a nordic combined athlete competing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics for Finland.
At age 17, Anssi Koivuranta became the youngest Nordic combined medalist in Olympic history when the Finns came won the bronze medal in the team event at the 2006 Torino Games. Even better results are expected for "AnZi" at the 2010 Vancouver Games, following a 2008-09 season when he became the overall World Cup champion. U.S. rival Bill Demong praised his ability to be in medal contention
Koivuranta's sporting idols, ski jumper Matti Nykaenen and Nordic combined skier Samppa Lajunen, both swept the gold medals at one Games, Nykaenen at the 1988 Calgary Games and Lajunen at the 2002 Salt Lake Games. If Koivuranta is to continue Finland's success at Games hosted in North America, he might want to re-consider his favorite motto: "Ei se oo niin justiinsa." (Finnish, for "Not everything has to be perfect.")
Koivuranta began his sporting career in classic Finnish style, on the ski jumping hill. At age six, he took his first jumps in his hometown of Kuusamo. He became interested in cross-country skiing at age eight, and decided then that Nordic combined was the sport best suited to his likes and talents. The Finn, recognizable by the blonde hair poking out from under his helmet or cap, likes to play the country's national sport pesäpallo (the Finnish version of baseball) during the summer.
As a 17-year-old, Koivuranta took 12th place in the K100 ski jumping competition at the 2005 Junior World Championships in Rovaniemi, Finland. Although he finished well off the medal podium in the individual event—he was a member of the Finnish team that took bronze in the team event—he could celebrate the fact that he finished higher in the standings than future overall World Cup champion (2009) in ski jumping, Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer. The Finn also participated in all three Nordic combined events that year.
At age 17, Anssi Koivuranta became the youngest Nordic combined medalist in Olympic history when the Finns came won the bronze medal in the team event at the 2006 Torino Games. Even better results are expected for "AnZi" at the 2010 Vancouver Games, following a 2008-09 season when he became the overall World Cup champion. U.S. rival Bill Demong praised his ability to be in medal contention
Anssi Koivuranta Anssi Koivuranta Anssi Koivuranta Anssi Koivuranta Anssi Koivuranta Anssi Koivuranta Pictures
in every race. "In the last years, I've never seen an athlete as consistent as Anssi. That's good for the sport."Koivuranta's sporting idols, ski jumper Matti Nykaenen and Nordic combined skier Samppa Lajunen, both swept the gold medals at one Games, Nykaenen at the 1988 Calgary Games and Lajunen at the 2002 Salt Lake Games. If Koivuranta is to continue Finland's success at Games hosted in North America, he might want to re-consider his favorite motto: "Ei se oo niin justiinsa." (Finnish, for "Not everything has to be perfect.")
Koivuranta began his sporting career in classic Finnish style, on the ski jumping hill. At age six, he took his first jumps in his hometown of Kuusamo. He became interested in cross-country skiing at age eight, and decided then that Nordic combined was the sport best suited to his likes and talents. The Finn, recognizable by the blonde hair poking out from under his helmet or cap, likes to play the country's national sport pesäpallo (the Finnish version of baseball) during the summer.
As a 17-year-old, Koivuranta took 12th place in the K100 ski jumping competition at the 2005 Junior World Championships in Rovaniemi, Finland. Although he finished well off the medal podium in the individual event—he was a member of the Finnish team that took bronze in the team event—he could celebrate the fact that he finished higher in the standings than future overall World Cup champion (2009) in ski jumping, Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer. The Finn also participated in all three Nordic combined events that year.
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