Minna Kauppi

Minna Kauppi, born on 25 November 1982 in Asikkala, Finland, is a Finnish orienteer who lives in Lahti. She is a nine-time World Champion in orienteering, five of those golds won in relays, and she is counted as the most successful Finnish orienteer of all time by number of gold medals at the World Orienteering Championships. She won the junior world titles in the short distance in 2001 and 2002, joined the Finnish national team in 2003 and took her first senior medal, a bronze in the Middle Distance, at the 2005 World Orienteering Championships in Japan. Her first senior gold came in the relay at the 2006 championships, and her best years ran from 2007 until 2012, when she won her last World Championship gold in the Middle Distance. Kauppi was named Finnish Sports Personality of the Year in 2010, ended her national team career in 2015, and was honoured with a statue in Vääksy in 2012. Her coach credited her running speed and fitness from skiing and middle-distance running, and her rivalry with Heli Jukkola, for her success.