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Samppa Lajunen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samppa Kalevi Lajunen
CountryFinland
Born (1979-04-23) 23 April 1979 (age 45)
Turku, Finland
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Ski clubJyväskylän Hiihtoseura
World Cup career
Seasons1995–2004
Starts113
Podiums55
Wins20
Overall titles2 (1997, 2000)
Medal record
Men's Nordic combined
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City 15 km individual
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City 7.5 km sprint
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City 4 × 5 km team
Silver medal – second place 1998 Nagano 15 km individual
Silver medal – second place 1998 Nagano 4 × 5 km team
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Ramsau 4 × 5 km team
Silver medal – second place 1997 Trondheim 4 × 5 km team
Silver medal – second place 1999 Ramsau 15 km individual
Silver medal – second place 2001 Lahti 15 km individual
Silver medal – second place 2001 Lahti 7.5 km sprint
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Lahti 4 × 5 km team
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Val di Fiemme 15 km individual
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Val di Fiemme 4 × 5 km team

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

Athletic career

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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.[citation needed]

References

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