- Matti Nykänen performing in Kirkkonummi 0495.jpg: Uusijani
- derivative work: Sporti (talk)
Matti Nykänen Rank
About Matti Nykänen
Matti Nykänen is widely regarded as one of the greatest ski jumpers of all time. During his active years, from 1981-1991, he won 5 Winter Olympic medals, 9 World Championship medals, and 22 Finnish Championship medals. Following his retirement, he enjoyed a brief stint as a pop singer. Unfortunately, he was rocked by a string of legal issues in his later years.
Early Life & Career
Nykänen started training in ski jumping when he was 9 years old, hitting nearly 3000 jumps a year annually. He had a successful junior career before turning pro. His impressive Winter Olympics run throughout his career earned him a position as the first ski jumper to win several gold medals in one Olympic game.
Controversies
His success on the slopes made him a celebrity in his home country of Finland. After struggling to make a comeback, he was involved in a series of occurrences that involved violent behavior and alcoholism. In 2004, he was sentenced to 26 months after a stabbing incident and another 16 months after assaulting his wife in 2009.
Pop Culture References
Nykänen appeared on the postage stamp of North Korea in 1988.
The Finnish ski jumper was portrayed by actor Edvin Endre in the movie “Eddie the Eagle.”
Personal Life & Death
He died in 2019 from pancreatitis and pneumonia. Nykänen was married five times and had three children.
Matti Nykänen Rank
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F.A.Q. about Matti Nykänen
When is his birthday?
Matti Nykänen's birthday is on July 17, 1963.
In how many days is his birthday?
Matti's birthday is in 245 days
How old was Matti when he died?
He was 55 years old.
When did he die?
He died in February 3, 2019.
How old would he be today?
Matti Nykänen would be 61 years old if he was alive today.
Where was Matti from?
He was born in Jyväskylä, Finland.
What was Matti Nykänen's height?
He was 5′ 9″ (1.74m) tall.