Toni Nieminen

Who is Toni Nieminen?

Toni Nieminen is a former Finnish ski jumper who competed from 1991 to 2004. He is the youngest Winter Olympic gold medalist ever, at 16 years and 261 days.

Nieminen's biggest success came in his first World Cup season 1991-1992. At the time, the transition from the Daescher technique to the V-style was taking place and Nieminen was one of the first to master the new technique.

Nieminen took his first World Cup victory in Thunder Bay, in December 1991. Then he went on to win the Four Hills Tournament with 3 victories and 1 second place. At the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, Nieminen won the Large hill and the Team large hill, placing third in the Normal hill. In the World Cup, Nieminen took a total of 8 victories securing also the overall title. Additionally, Nieminen won the World Junior Championship in both the Individual and the Team competitions. Nieminen was chosen as the Finnish Sports Personality of the Year 1992.

In the following seasons, Nieminen showed only glimpses of his great talent. He became the first ski jumper to break the 200 meter barrier at Planica in 1994. Out of his total of 9 individual World Cup victories, only one came after the season 1991-1992, in Kuopio 1995. In World Cup team competitions, Nieminen scored one victory, in Villach 2001.