Helena Takalo

Helena Takalo
Helena Takalo in March, 1976
Country Finland
Full nameAnni Helena Takalo
Born28 October 1947 (1947-10-28) (age 77)
Nivala, Finland
World Cup career
Seasons1 – (1982)
Indiv. starts3
Indiv. podiums0
Team starts1
Team podiums0
Overall titles0 – (47th in 1982)
Medal record
Women's cross-country skiing
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
1976 Innsbruck5 km
1972 Sapporo3 × 5 km relay
1976 Innsbruck10 km
1976 Innsbruck4 × 5 km relay
1980 Lake Placid10 km
World Championships
1978 Lahti5 km
1978 Lahti4 × 5 km relay
1970 Vysoké Tatry3 × 5 km relay
1974 Falun10 km
1978 Lahti20 km

Anni Helena Takalo (née Kivioja, born 28 October 1947) is a Finnish former cross-country skier. She was born in Nivala, and was dominant women's cross-country skiing in the 1970s, earning five Winter Olympic medals and four FIS Nordic World Ski Championships medals (golds in 5 km and 4 × 5 km relay (both 1978), and bronzes in 3 × 5 km relay (1970), 10 km (1974), and 20 km (1978).).

Takalo also won the women's 5 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 1976. For her cross-country skiing successes, she earned the Holmenkollen medal in 1977 (Shared with Hilkka Riihivuori and Walter Steiner).