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
Helena Takalo in March, 1976
Country Finland
Full nameAnni Helena Takalo
Born28 October 1947 (1947-10-28) (age 77)
Nivala, Finland
World Cup career
Seasons1 – (1982)
Indiv. starts3
Indiv. podiums0
Team starts1
Team podiums0
Overall titles0 – (47th in 1982)
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck 5 km
Silver medal – second place 1972 Sapporo 3 × 5 km relay
Silver medal – second place 1976 Innsbruck 10 km
Silver medal – second place 1976 Innsbruck 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Lake Placid 10 km
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1978 Lahti 5 km
Gold medal – first place 1978 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1970 Vysoké Tatry 3 × 5 km relay
Bronze medal – third place 1974 Falun 10 km
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Lahti 20 km

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

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All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[1]

Olympic Games

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  • 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

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  • 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

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Season standings

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 Season   Age  Overall
1982 34 47

References

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  1. ^ "TAKALO Helena". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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