Kaija MUSTONEN

Kaija Mustonen is the last Finn to win an Olympic medal in speed skating, through 2009. Mustonen skated her best results at the Winter Olympic Games and both of her Olympic appearances were so strong that she was named Finnish female athlete of the year in 1964 and 1968. She first surprised everyone at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where she won silver in the 1,500 and bronze in the 1,000, as her previous best places at the World All-around Championships were tenth in all-around and ninth in an individual distance. Later in 1964 Mustonen won her first distance medal – bronze in the 1,500 – and skated her overall best result, fourth, at the World All-around Championships. She would win three more distance medals, all bronzes, at the World All-around Championships – 1,500 in 1967; 3,000 in 1967 and 1968 – before surprising everyone again by winning the 1,500 metres at the 1968 Winter Olympics. That was also the only gold for Finland at those Games. She also won silver in the 3K and was fourth in the 1,000 and sixth in the 500 at the 1968 Olympics. Domestically Mustonen won seven Finnish all-around titles in a row from 1962-68.

Personal Bests: 500 – 45.6 (1968); 1000 – 1:31.5 (1968); 1500 – 2:20.1 (1968); 3000 – 5:00.7 (1968).