Eero Mäntyranta

Eero Antero Mäntyranta (born 20 November 1937 in Turtola (cur. Pello)) is a former Finnish skier and multiple Olympic Champion. With his seven medals from four Winter Olympics, he is one of the most successful skiers Finland has ever produced.

His extraordinary success at the 1964 Winter Olympics earned him the nickname "Mister Seefeld", referring to the venue where the cross-country skiing and biathlon competitions took place.

The Finnish Ministry of Education endowed him with the Pro Urheilu letter of recognition in 2000. There is also a museum centered on Mäntyranta in Pello.

He is the first Finnish sportsman to have tested positive for doping. At the 1972 national championships, his tests showed use of amphetamine, but the result was hushed up. After the Sapporo Winter Olympics, the fact came to light but was and has been denied by Mäntyranta. Later Mäntyranta has admitted to using hormones, which during his sports career were not yet prohibited. Mäntyranta has primary familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP) causing increase in red blood cell mass and hemoglobin due to a mutation in the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) gene, which was identified following a DNA study done on over 200 members of his family, as reported in 1993. This condition results in an increase of up to 50% in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, a large advantage when participating in endurance events.

Accomplishments

 * three Olympic gold medals: Squaw Valley 1960 (4 x 10 km Relay) and Innsbruck 1964 (15 km and 30 km)
 * two Olympic silver medals: Innsbruck 1964 (relay) and Grenoble 1968 (15 km)
 * two Olympic bronze medals: Grenoble 1968 (30 km and relay)
 * two World Championships gold medals: Zakopane 1962 (30 km) and Oslo 1966 (30 km), two silver: 1962 (relay) and 1966 (relay), one bronze: 1966 (50 km)
 * National domestic championships: five gold, two silver and two bronze
 * Holmenkollen ski festival championships first place 1962, 1964 and 1968 (15 km)
 * Holmenkollen medal in 1964 (Shared with Veikko Kankkonen, Georg Thoma, and Halvor Næs.).
 * Salpausselkä games win 1964 an 1972.

Mäntyranta also finished 19th the 30 km event at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.