Jani Sievinen

Jani Sievinen

Jani Sievinen in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Jani Nikanor Sievinen
Nationality	Finland
Born	(1974-03-31) 31 March 1974 Vihti
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Stroke(s)	Backstroke and medley
Club	Nummelan Kisaajat
Medal record Men’s swimming Competitor for Finland Olympic Games Silver 1996 Atlanta 200 m medley World Championships (LC) Gold 1994 Rome 200 m medley Silver 1994 Rome 400 m medley World Championships (SC) Gold 1999 Hong Kong 100 m medley Gold 2000 Athens 200 m medley Gold 2000 Athens 400 m medley Gold 2002 Moscow 200 m medley Silver 2000 Athens 100 m medley Silver 2002 Moscow 100 m medley European Championships (LC) Gold 1993 Sheffield 200 m medley Gold 1995 Vienna 200 m freestyle Gold 1995 Vienna 200 m medley Gold 1995 Vienna 400 m medley Gold 2002 Berlin 200 m medley Silver 1993 Sheffield 400 m medley Silver 2004 Madrid 200 m medley Bronze 1997 Seville 200 m medley Bronze 1999 Istanbul 200 m medley European Championships (SC) Gold 1991 Gelsenkirchen 50 m backstroke Gold 1992 Espoo 50 m backstroke Gold 1992 Espoo 100 m medley Gold 1992 Espoo 4x50 m medley Gold 1998 Sheffield 100 m medley Gold 2002 Rijeka 200 m medley Gold 2003 Dublin 100 m medley Gold 2003 Dublin 200 m medley Silver 2001 Antwerp 200 m medley Silver 2002 Rijeka 100 m medley Silver 2002 Rijeka 4x50 m medley Bronze 1998 Sheffield 200 m medley Bronze 2001 Antwerp 100 m medley

Jani Nikanor Sievinen ( pronunciation ; born 31 March 1974 in Vihti) is a former medley swimmer from Finland, who won the silver medal in the 200 m individual medley at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Together with Antti Kasvio he was Finland's leading swimmer in the 1990s, thanks to his father Esa Sievinen who made him one of the most versatile swimmers in the world.

He won his first title in long course, at the 1993 European Swimming Championships in Sheffield, and became world champion one year later, at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy in the 200 m individual medley. Sievinen competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992.

At the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2006 in Helsinki the four-time World and twelve-time European Champion concluded his 16-year international career which started with the 50 m backstroke gold medal at the European Sprint Championships in Gelsenkirchen (GER) in 1991. Called “Mr Swimming Finland“ in his home country, he is focusing on winning a further and last medal at the upcoming Continental Championships.

The highlight in Sievinen’s career were the 1994 FINA World Swimming Championships in Rome at the age of 20. He not only gained his only world title on long course in 200 m medley over 1:58.16 minutes but also set a world record that stood of almost nine years before it was broken by the then shooting star Michael Phelps (USA) in 2003. On short course, Sievinen was the fastest swimmer in the World in the 200 m medley for more than twelve years (1992–2004).

Jani Sievinen is married to Mari Sievinen. They have two daughters (born 2008 and 2010). Sievinen also has two sons (born 1997 and 2001) from his previous marriage to Susanna Sievinen.

References

• Personal website: www.janisievinen.com
• sports-reference

Records
Preceded by Tamás Darnyi	World Record Holder Men's 200 Individual Medley 11 September 1994 – 29 June 2003	Succeeded by Michael Phelps
Preceded by -	World Record Holder Men's 100 Individual Medley (25m) 23 January 1996 – 18 March 2000	Succeeded by Neil Walker
Preceded by -	World Record Holder Men's 200 Individual Medley (25m) 17 January 1992 – 23 March 2000	Succeeded by Attila Czene
Preceded by Luca Sacchi	World Record Holder Men's 400 Individual Medley (25m) 9 February 1993 – 1 February 1997	Succeeded by Marcel Wouda