Pertti Karppinen

Updated：2008-07-07 10:47 | Source：beijing2008.cn

　　Atlanta, 5 August 1984, Games of the XXIII Olympiad. Rowing men‘s: Finn Pertti KARPPINEN, winner of the men‘s single sculls event. Credit: The Los Angeles Time/International Olympic Photo Pool

　　Born: 17 February 1953

　　Birthplace: Vehmaa (Finland)

　　Nationality: Finland

　　Sport: Rowing

　　ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

　　Montreal 1976

　　Moscow 1980

　　Los Angeles 1984

　　Seoul 1988

　　Barcelona 1992

　　AWARDS

　　Olympic medals:

　　Gold: 3

　　Other results:

　　World Championships

　　Gold: 2 (79, 85)

　　Silver: 3 (77, 81, 86)

　　Bronze: 1 (87)

　　Tall and three times Olympic champion at single sculls

　　Pertti Karppinen, a two-metre tall fireman from Parsio, Finland, won the singles sculls at the 1976 Montr岢al Olympics by coming from behind to upset world champion Peter Michael Kolbe of Germany, and win by more than two and a half seconds. Karppinen defended his Olympic title at the 1980 Moscow Games, this time besting Vassily Yakusha by more than two seconds.

　　Kolbe had missed the 1980 Olympics because of the anti-Soviet boycott, but he was back to challenge Karppinen on Lake Casitas during the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

　　Kolbe took the early lead, but again Karppinen came from behind, catching Kolbe 250m from the finish and then powering ahead in the last 25m to earn his third gold medal. Karppinen also competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, placing seventh and tenth respectively. He is one of only two rowers (Vyacheslav Ivanov being the other) to win the Olympic single sculls three times.

Editor : LiuAnqi