Marjo Matikainen-Kallström

Marjo Tuulevi Matikainen-Kallström (born February 3, 1965 in Lohja) is a politician and former Finnish cross-country skier.

Matikainen-Kallström represents the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) in Finland. From 1996 to 2004 she was a Member of the European Parliament, and since 2004 she has been a member of the Finnish Parliament. She had a very short but hugely winning sporting career. In the six seasons she competed at top international level, she won the World Cup three years in a row. At the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Matikainen-Kallström won a bronze medal in the relay aged just 19.

Four years later in Calgary she won bronze on the 10 km race, and in the 5 km sprint won gold after being in second place all race until the last kilometre before coming through to win, 1.3 seconds ahead of Tamara Tikhonova, who had to settle for silver. That same year she won another bronze medal in the relay.

At the 1987 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf, she won the 5 km sprint, and silver in the 10 km. Matikainen-Kallström finished her championship career with a fantastic 1989 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships on her home soil in Lahti, where she won the following medals:

• Gold medal in the 15 km
• Gold medal in the 4 x 5 km
• Silver medal in the 10 km freestyle
• Bronze medal in the 10 km classical
• Bronze medal in the 30 km classical

She retired after these championships at 24 years old to concentrate on her studies at the Helsinki University of Technology and politics.

Matikainen-Kallström also was the first winner of the women's 30 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1988.

References

• Marjo Matikanen Kallstroem at the International Ski Federation
• Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file (Norwegian)