Anni Helena Takalo (née Kivioja, born 28 October 1947) is a Finnish former cross-country skier. She was born in Nivala, and was dominant women's cross-country skiing in the 1970s, earning five Winter Olympic medals and four FIS Nordic World Ski Championships medals (golds in 5 km and 4 × 5 km relay (both 1978), and bronzes in 3 × 5 km relay (1970), 10 km (1974), and 20 km (1978).).
| Helena Takalo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Helena Takalo in March, 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Finland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Anni Helena Takalo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 October 1947 (age 76) Nivala, Finland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seasons | 1 – (1982) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starts | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall titles | 0 – (47th in 1982) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Takalo also won the women's 5 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1976. For her cross-country skiing successes, she earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1977 (Shared with Hilkka Riihivuori and Walter Steiner).
Cross-country skiing results
All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[1]
Olympic Games
- 5 medals – (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
| Year | Age | 5 km | 10 km | 3/4 × 5 km relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 20 | 22 | DNF | — |
| 1972 | 24 | 9 | 5 | Silver |
| 1976 | 28 | Gold | Silver | Silver |
| 1980 | 32 | 5 | Bronze | 5 |
World Championships
- 5 medals – (2 gold, 3 bronze)
| Year | Age | 5 km | 10 km | 20 km | 3/4 × 5 km relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 22 | — | — | — | Bronze |
| 1974 | 26 | — | Bronze | — | 4 |
| 1978 | 30 | Gold | 13 | Bronze | Gold |
| 1982 | 34 | — | — | — | 4 |
World Cup
Season standings
| Season | Age | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 34 | 47 |
References
- Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file (in Norwegian)
- Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file (in Norwegian)