Full name Eero Antero Mantyranta Name Eero Mantyranta | Role Olympic athlete | |
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Children Minna Mantyranta-Mustonen, Vesa Mantyranta, Harri Mantyranta, Iiris Mantyranta Olympic medals Cross-Country Skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics - Men\'s 30 km Similar People Veikko Hakulinen, Harald Gronningen, Sixten Jernberg, Franco Nones, Odd Martinsen | ||
Eero Antero Mäntyranta (20 November 1937 – 29 December 2013) was one of the most successful Finnish skiers. He competed in four Winter Olympics (1960–1972) winning seven medals at three of them. His performance 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 his birthplace of Pello.
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Eero m ntyranta a simple tribute
Genetics and doping
Mäntyranta had primary familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP) causing an 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.
In 1972 Mäntyranta was the first Finnish sportsman who tested positive for doping. He later admitted taking hormones, which was not prohibited in those years.
Accomplishments
Mäntyranta also finished 19th in the 30 km event at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.
