Jay Hakkinen

Jay Hakkinen (born July 19, 1977) is a retired biathlete from Kasilof, Alaska. He is a four-time American Olympian, and his 10th-place finish in the 20-kilometer individual race at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy was the best finish ever by an American biathlete.[1]

Hakkinen retired from the sport at the end of the 2013–14 season.[2]

Background

At the age of three, Hakkinen learned how to skate. Soon after, he picked up cross-country skiing, where he won the Junior 5 km freestyle. He got involved in biathlon when in 1994, he went for a year to a Norwegian town in a student exchange program.[3] His host parents were able to arrange for him to trade with a local biathlon club. Within three years of returning home to Alaska, he was the Junior Champion of biathlon.[3]

Performance in Turin

Hakkinen placed 10th in the 20-kilometer individual race at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. He had the 2nd fastest skiing time of anyone in the competition, but failed to medal because of penalties he earned while shooting.[1][4] He vowed to medal in his next event, but instead missed all five targets and fell quickly out of contention.[5] Hakkinen was the lead biathlete for the United States in the relay, and was in first place when he handed off to his teammate; ultimately, however, the United States finished in 9th in the relay.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dure, Beau (February 9, 2010). "Improved U.S. team targets increased exposure". USA Today. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  2. ↑ Little, Chelsea (16 May 2014). "Biathlete on the Rise, Smith Earns National Team Nomination as U.S. Builds for Future". FasterSkier. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Jay Hakkinen Bio". NBC Olympics. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  4. ↑ Boeck, Greg (February 11, 2006). "USA's Hakkinen skies well, ends a shot short of bronze". USA Today. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  5. ↑ "American way off-target in quest for biathlon medal". Associated Press. February 14, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Germany wins biathlon relay; U.S. briefly in first". USA Today. February 21, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

External links