Finland is a Nordic country bordered by Sweden, Norway and Russia. Their traditional sport is called Pesapallo that literally translates to "nest ball" and is very close to baseball.

Ski Jump in Lahti, Finland

Ski Jump in Lahti, Finland

As far as international sports though, Finland plays mostly winter-type games like ice hockey, ski jumping and cross-country skiing. However, they also enjoy athletics and motor sports like Formula One.

"Finland's extraordinary success in distance running during the early 20th century established the 'Flying Finns' as one of the most dominant athletic traditions in Olympic history. Paavo Nurmi alone won more gold medals than many countries have ever achieved."
— Robert Wood, sports science expert and founder of Topend Sports

Finland is also one of the powerhouse countries when it comes to the Olympics. Finland first participated in the Olympic Games in 1908 and in 1912, Hannes Kolehmainen, the original "Flying Finn" took a record three Olympic gold medals.

One of the country's greatest athletes, who is also considered as one of the greatest Olympians, Paavo Nurmi, took a total of nine Olympic gold medals from 1920 and 1928 as well as setting numerous world records between 1921 and 1931.

Finnish athletes have also pretty much dominated the javelin throw for over 100 years, giving them 9 Olympic gold medals, 5 world championships, 5 European championships and a staggering 24 world records.

Another sport that Finnish players excel in is ice hockey. Their national team is widely considered as one, if not the best in the world and has taken 2 world championships (1995 and 2011) and 6 Olympic medals. Finland also hosted the 1952 Summer Olympic Games, as well as the 1983 and 2005 World Championships in Athletics.

"Finland's 2022 Olympic ice hockey gold medal represented the culmination of decades of investment in youth development and a hockey culture that permeates Finnish society. It's a testament to what a small nation can achieve through focused sporting development."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

The Finnish National Football Team has not had great success. In 2020, the Huuhkajat qualified for the UEFA European Championship (the Euros). It was the first time Finland had ever qualified for a major Football tournament.

Finland at the Olympics

Finland have won several medals at the Olympics, and they include the following:

  • Finland won just two silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics
  • Finland won 4 medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
  • Finland won 3 medals at the London 2012 Olympics (2 silver and 1 bronze)
  • Finland won just one bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics
  • Finland won two bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
  • Finland did not win any medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Finland.

Popular Sports of Finland

  • Football (Soccer), ice hockey, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, athletics, motor sports

Traditional or Local Sports

  • Pesäpallo — a Finnish variation of baseball, the major difference is that the ball is pitched vertically.
  • Finnish Skittles — opposing players take turns to knockdown their opponent's skittles.
  • Mölkky — players use a wooden pin to try to knock over wooden pins.
  • Salibandy - This is a type of floorball that is popular in Finland.
"Finland's unprecedented 100-year dominance in javelin throw demonstrates how specialized training traditions can create sustained excellence in a single athletic discipline. No other country has matched this level of consistency in a single field event."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Finland Sporting Success

  • Paavo Nurmi has won 9 Olympic gold medals and 3 silver medals for Finland
  • Lasse Viren has won 4 Olympic gold medals for Finland
  • The Finnish men's ice hockey team won a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Flying Finns Legacy

Finnish distance runners dominated Olympic athletics for decades. Paavo Nurmi won 9 gold medals (1920-1928), Hannes Kolehmainen won 3 golds (1912), and Lasse Viren won 4 golds (1972-1976).

Finland Summer Olympics History →

Great Athletes from Finland

  • Paavo Nurmi (running)
  • Jari Litmanen (Football)
  • Jari Kurri (ice hockey)
  • Teemu Selanne (ice hockey)
  • Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (skiing)
  • Lasse Viren (running)
  • Hannes Kolehmainen (running)

Javelin Throw Dominance

Finnish athletes have dominated javelin throw for over 100 years with 9 Olympic gold medals, 5 world championships, and an incredible 24 world records.

Finland Athletics Records →

Finland Sports Trivia

  • The 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics was the first Olympics held in a Nordic country and featured the famous lighting of the Olympic flame by Paavo Nurmi and Hannes Kolehmainen.
  • Finland is the only Nordic country to have hosted the Summer Olympics.

Finland at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Finland

2022 Olympic Ice Hockey Gold

The Finnish men's ice hockey team won their first Olympic gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, defeating the ROC 2-1 in the final.

Finland Winter Olympics History →

Annual Sporting Events Held in Finland

  • Paavo Nurmi Games - an annual track and field meet at Paavo Nurmi Stadium in Turku, Finland.
  • The World Championships in Ice Hockey - This is an annual event which is held in Helsinki.
  • The Finnish Grand Prix - This is another major annual event, which is held in the city of Imatra.
  • The Finnish Skiing Championships - It is an annual event held in Lahti every year.
  • The Finnish Athletics Championships - This is another annual event held in Tampere every year.

Pro Tip: To experience authentic Finnish sports culture, visit during the ice hockey season (September-April) when the Liiga league is in full swing, or attend the annual Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku during the summer athletics season.

Sporting Facilities in Finland

Pro Tip: The Helsinki Olympic Stadium, venue of the 1952 Summer Olympics, offers guided tours and features a sports museum - it's a must-visit for any sports enthusiast traveling to Finland.

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let me know.