Biography
Reason: He got involved in Para sports by playing wheelchair rugby when he attended the Kapyla Rehabilitation Centre in Helsinki, Finland, and eventually switched to Para cycling. (iltalehti.fi, 03 Sep 2018)
Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (yle.fi, 03 Dec 2023; epressi.com, 20 May 2024)
Milestones: He became the first Para road cyclist representing Finland to win a medal at the world championships when he claimed a bronze in the H1 time trial in 2014 in Greenville, SC, United States of America. (vammaisurheilu.fi, 01 Sep 2014; SportsDeskOnline, 30 Aug 2014)
Awards: He was named 2016 Athlete with an Impairment of the Year at the Central Ostrobothnia Sports Gala in Finland. (pyhajarvensanomat.fi, 28 Jan 2017)
He was named 2014 Cyclist of the Year by the Cycling Union of Finland. (sport.fi, 19 Nov 2014)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateApril 20, 1975
Place of ResidenceNIVALA
OccupationAthlete
Languages SpokenFinnish
CoachAri Halmetoja [personal], FIN
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 5 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | |
| 7 | H1-2 Road Race | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | |
| Road World Championships | ||||
| 2 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2014 | Greenville, SC, USA | |
| 3 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2019 | Emmen, NED | |
| 3 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2015 | Nottwil, SUI | |
| 3 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2014 | Greenville, SC, USA | |
| 4 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2022 | Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN | |
| 4 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2017 | Pietermaritzburg, RSA | |
| 4 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2015 | Nottwil, SUI | |
| 5 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2022 | Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN | |
| 5 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2021 | Cascais, POR | |
| 6 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2021 | Cascais, POR | |
| 6 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2019 | Emmen, NED | |
| 6 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2017 | Pietermaritzburg, RSA | |
| 7 | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2018 | Maniago, ITA | |
| 8 | Men's H1 - Road Race | 2018 | Maniago, ITA | |
| 11 | H1-5 Team Relay | 2014 | Greenville, SC, USA | |
| 12 | H1-5 Team Relay | 2018 | Maniago, ITA | |
| DNS | H1 Individual Time Trial | 2023 | Glasgow, GBR | |
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