SARAJEVO 1984
- 8–19 February 1984
- 39 official medal events.
- 1,273 competitors from 49 countries.
- Finnish team: 48 athletes (45 participated in official events).
The Sarajevo Games of 1984 marked the pinnacle of success for Finnish Nordic skiing sport. Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen, winner of all three individual women’s cross-country races, was the best athlete of the entire Games. Matti Nykänen began his Olympic ski jumping career with gold and silver in Sarajevo. Best among the Finnish male skiers in Sarajevo was Aki Karvonen with three medals. Three Finns placed among the top four in men’s 15-kilometre race, as was the case in the Nordic combined. In only one of the 11 Olympic competitions in Nordic skiing did Finns fail to win a medal. After all the success in individual events bronze medals in both men’s and women’s relay races carried a slight taste of disappointment. By contrast, other sports were much less successful. Finnish biathlon had entered a period of decline, and the ice hockey team had to contend with sixth place.
