Matti Nykänen

2.1. Olympic Games

Nykänen's Olympic record is particularly distinguished, making him one of the most decorated athletes in Winter Olympic history.

At the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, he secured a silver medal in the normal hill event and a gold medal in the large hill. His large hill victory was notable for its 17.5-point margin, which was the largest in Olympic ski jumping history at the time.

Nykänen further cemented his legendary status at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, where he achieved an unprecedented feat by winning three gold medals. He became the first ski jumper to win gold medals on both the normal hill and the large hill at a single Olympic Games. Additionally, he earned a third gold medal in the team large hill event. This made him, alongside Yvonne van Gennip of the Netherlands, the most medaled athlete at the 1988 Winter Olympics. To date, he remains the only ski jumper to have won three gold medals at a single Olympic Games.

2.2. World Cup career

Matti Nykänen enjoyed immense success in the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, winning the overall title four times. This record is shared with Adam Małysz and Sara Takanashi. He accumulated a total of 46 World Cup victories, a record that was later surpassed only by Gregor Schlierenzauer. He also achieved 76 podium finishes in World Cup competitions.

2.3. World Championships and Ski Flying

Nykänen's success extended to the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and FIS Ski Flying World Championships. He secured a total of nine medals at the World Championship level, including five gold medals.

At the 1982 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo, Nykänen, at just 18 years old, won a gold medal in the individual large hill (K120) event and a bronze in the team large hill. He continued his dominance in team events, winning gold medals in the team large hill at the 1984 Engelberg, 1985 Seefeld, 1987 Oberstdorf, and 1989 Lahti World Championships. He also earned a silver medal in the individual normal hill at the 1987 Oberstdorf championships and a bronze in the individual large hill at the 1985 Seefeld and 1989 Lahti championships.

In ski flying, Nykänen competed five times at the World Championships, medaling in every appearance. He won the individual gold medal at the 1985 Planica event. He also secured a silver medal at the 1990 Vikersund championships and bronze medals at the 1983 Harrachov, 1986 Bad Mitterndorf (Kulm), and 1988 Oberstdorf championships.

2.4. World Records

Matti Nykänen holds the unique distinction of being the only male ski jumper in history to set five world records in ski flying. His personal best jump was 627 ft ^{(191 m)}, achieved in Planica on March 15, 1985. This record briefly stood until Piotr Fijas of Poland surpassed it with 636 ft ^{(194 m)} in 1987, also in Planica.

2.5. Holmenkollen Ski Festival and Medal

Nykänen twice won the prestigious ski jumping competition at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Oslo, Norway, in 1982 and 1985. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in ski jumping, he was awarded the Holmenkollen Medal in 1987, sharing the honor with Hermann Weinbuch.

3.1. Marriages and family

Nykänen was married six times throughout his life. His marriages included:

• Tiina Hassinen (1986-1988), with whom he had one son.
• Pia Hynninen (1989-1991), with whom he had one daughter.
• Sari Paanala (1996-1998). During this marriage, Nykänen temporarily changed his surname to Paanala.
• Mervi Tapola (2001-2003, remarried 2004-2010).
• Pia Talonpoika (2014-2019, until his death).

He was survived by his fifth wife, Pia Talonpoika, and three children: two from previous relationships and one born outside of marriage.

3.2. Relationship with Mervi Tapola

Nykänen's relationship with Mervi Tapola, a millionaire "sausage heiress" (1954-2019), was particularly tumultuous and highly publicized. They first met in 1999 and were married from 2001 to 2003. After their divorce in 2003, they remarried in 2004, a union that lasted until 2010.

Their marriage was marked by numerous incidents of domestic violence. The first reported assault against Tapola occurred in June 2000, leading to a restraining order against Nykänen. In 2001, Nykänen was accused of assaulting Tapola, but the charges were withdrawn after Tapola exercised her right to remain silent. In 2004, he received a suspended sentence for another assault on Tapola.

In September 2005, Nykänen was re-arrested for abusing Tapola just four days after being released from prison for a previous assault. He was convicted and served four months in prison from March 16, 2006. In the summer of 2009, Tapola-Nykänen filed for divorce for the 14th time but later withdrew the petition.

On Christmas Day 2009, Nykänen allegedly injured his wife with a knife and attempted to strangle her with a bathrobe belt. He was charged with attempted manslaughter and held in custody by Tampere police, but was released on December 28 due to insufficient evidence. On August 24, 2010, Nykänen was convicted of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 16 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay 5.00 K EUR in compensation to Tapola for pain and emotional suffering, and 3.00 K EUR for legal expenses. In August 2010, Tapola filed for divorce for the 15th time, and their marriage ended.

3.3. Legal issues and imprisonment

Beyond his domestic issues, Nykänen faced several other legal troubles that led to periods of imprisonment. On August 24, 2004, he was arrested on suspicion of attempted manslaughter of a family friend in Tottijärvi, Nokia, after losing a finger-pulling competition. In October 2004, he was found guilty of aggravated assault and sentenced to 26 months in prison. As it was his first offense, he was released in September 2005.

Soon after his release in 2006, he stabbed a man in a pizza restaurant in Korpilahti. These incidents contributed to a public perception of Nykänen as a troubled figure whose personal life was spiraling out of control.

3.4. ADHD diagnosis

In the early 2000s, Matti Nykänen was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This diagnosis shed some light on the potential underlying factors contributing to his impulsive behavior and difficulties managing his personal life, though it did not excuse his actions.

4.1. Singing career

As his ski jumping career concluded, Nykänen was encouraged by a group of businessmen to pursue a singing career. His debut album, Yllätysten yö (Night of Surprises), released in 1992, sold over 25,000 copies, earning him a golden record in Finland. This made him the second Olympic gold medalist, after Tapio Rautavaara, to achieve this distinction in Finnish music. His subsequent album, Samurai, released in 1993, did not achieve the same level of success.

In 2002, Nykänen attempted a musical comeback, releasing the single "Ehkä otin, ehkä en" ("Maybe I took [it], maybe I didn't"). He also lent his name to a cider brand using the same advertising slogan. In 2006, he released his third studio album, also titled Ehkä otin, ehkä en. Throughout much of his musical career, Nykänen collaborated with professional musician Jussi Niemi, touring Finland two to three times a week with Niemi's "Samurai" ensemble. Many of his singles were famously named after his own memorable quotes, such as "Elämä on laiffii" ("Life is life") and "Jokainen tsäänssi on mahdollisuus" ("Every chance is a possibility").

4.2. Other ventures

By the late 1990s, Nykänen faced severe financial difficulties, leading him to take on unconventional jobs. He notably worked as a stripper in a restaurant in Järvenpää, an activity that drew criticism, with the restaurateur being reproached for exploiting Nykänen. In November 2009, Nykänen ventured into media, launching his own cooking web series titled Mattihan se sopan keitti (Matti cooked the soup).

6.1. Sporting legacy

Nykänen is recognized as one of the most dominant figures in the history of ski jumping. His record of five Olympic medals (four gold), nine World Championship medals (five gold), and 22 Finnish Championship medals (14 gold) speaks to his extraordinary talent and consistency. He is the only ski jumper to have won all five of the sport's major individual titles: an Olympic gold medal (three times), the Ski Jumping World Championships (once), the Ski Flying World Championships (once), four World Cup overall titles, and the Four Hills Tournament (twice). His four World Cup titles remain an all-time male record, shared with Adam Małysz. Furthermore, Nykänen is the only male five-time ski flying world record holder. His dominance in the 1980s, particularly his three gold medals at the 1988 Winter Olympics, cemented his status as a legendary athlete.

6.2. Controversies and criticisms

Despite his sporting greatness, Nykänen's reputation was significantly affected by his tumultuous personal life and frequent legal issues. His struggles with alcohol addiction, multiple marriages and divorces, and incidents of violent behavior, including aggravated assaults and a stabbing conviction, led to periods of imprisonment. These controversies were widely covered by the media, portraying a stark contrast between his athletic brilliance and his personal turmoil. Critics often pointed to his actions as a negative example, highlighting the challenges of managing fame and personal demons. His life became a cautionary tale, demonstrating how personal struggles can profoundly impact a public figure's legacy, even one as successful as Nykänen.

6.3. In popular culture

Matti Nykänen's life, both his sporting triumphs and personal struggles, captured the public imagination and found its way into popular culture. In 1988, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued a postage stamp depicting Nykänen in flight during a competition.

His life story was adapted into the 2006 Finnish biographical film Matti: Hell Is for Heroes, which focused more on his exploits beyond ski jumping. In the 2016 British biographical sports film Eddie the Eagle, Swedish actor Edvin Endre portrayed Nykänen, appearing alongside the protagonist Eddie Edwards in the 90-meter ski jumping event.