Matti Nykänen's Olympic Gold Medal Calgary 1988

Matti Nykänen was one of the best ski jumpers of all time. He won a total of five Olympic medals: gold and silver in Sarajevo 1984 and historically all three gold medals (normal hill, large hill and team competition) in Calgary 1988. In 1995 the Sports Museum of Finland acquired all Nykänen’s major championship medals by help of a public collection campaign. On display here is the gold medal Matti Nykänen won in the large hill (90 m) competition at the Olympic Winter Games of 1988 in Calgary, Canada. The ”gold” medal is actually gilded silver and has a diameter of 69 millimetres. It was designed by Friedrich Peter. The reverse side features profiles of an Olympic champion and an Indian chief and equipment used in Olympic winter sports. The event in which the medal was won is inscribed on the edge of the coin.