Heli Rantanen

FINWomen

Birth dateFeb 26, 1970

BirthplaceLammi, Finland

Height1.74 m

Weight69 kg

Heli Orvokki Rantanen (born 26 February 1970) is a retired Finnish track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. She won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, setting a new personal best of 67.94 in the first round. She is the first Nordic woman to become an Olympic Champion in athletics.

Key facts

Javelin Throw

61.61

#154 all-time

2002 season best

45.91

Jul 21, 2002 · Joensuu (FIN)

2002 season best

Last competition

Finnish Championships

Jul 21, 2002 · 45.91

Finnish Championships

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 gold

Age

56 years old

As of Sep 17, 2026: Javelin Throw 61.61 (#154 all-time), 2002 season best 45.91 (Jul 21, 2002, Joensuu (FIN)) · Last competition: Finnish Championships, Jul 21, 2002, 45.91 · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 56 years old

Personal bests

61.61

#154 all-time

JavelinThr

67.94

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	1	-	-	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2002	JT	45.91	-	Jul 21, 2002	↑	Finnish Championships
2001	JT	56.19	-	Jul 15, 2001	↑	Vaasa (FIN)
2000	JT	60.98	-	Jul 23, 2000	↑	Pihtipudas (FIN)
1999	JT	61.61	-	Jun 26, 1999	↑	Kuortane (FIN)
1998	JT	60.90	-	Aug 22, 1998	↑	Budapest European Championships, Népstadion, Budapest
1998	JavelinThr	63.60	-	Aug 30, 1998	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1997	JT	65.14	-	Aug 22, 1997	↑	Bruxelles (BEL)
1997	JavelinThr	65.14	-	Aug 22, 1997	↓	Bruxelles (BEL)
1996	JT	66.54	-	Jul 29, 1996	↑	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1996	JavelinThr	67.94	-	Jul 27, 1996	↓	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1995	JavelinThr	65.04	-	Aug 8, 1995	↓	IAAF World Championships
1995	JT	65.04	-	Aug 8, 1995	↑	Ullevi Stadium, Göteborg (SWE)
1993	JavelinThr	60.56	-	Aug 21, 1993	↓	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	JT	60.56	-	Aug 21, 1993	↑	Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart (GER)
1992	JavelinThr	63.98	-	Jul 31, 1992	↓	Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona (ESP)
1992	JT	63.98	-	Jul 31, 1992	↑	Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona (ESP)
1991	JT	61.30	-	Aug 31, 1991	↑	National Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)
1991	JavelinThr	61.30	-	Aug 31, 1991	↓	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1990	JT	60.64	-	Jul 28, 1990	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1990	JavelinThr	60.64	-	Jul 28, 1990	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1989	JavelinThr	54.74	-	Aug 26, 1989	↓	European Junior Championships
1989	JT	54.74	-	Aug 26, 1989	↑	Stadion ŠC Sloboda, Varaždin (YUG)

2002

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JT	45.91	-	Jul 21	Finnish Championships

2001

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JT	56.19	-	Jul 15	Vaasa Wasa Games, Vaasa
JT	55.96	-	Jul 7	Finnish Championships, Turku

2000

9 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JT	58.20	-	Sep 3	Helsinki Finnkampen / FIN-SWE/, Helsinki
JT	56.79	-	Aug 30	Rovereto Palio Città della Quercia, Rovereto
JT	57.09	-	Aug 20	Finnish Championships, Lahti
JT	55.27	-	Aug 19	Finnish Championships
JT	60.98	-	Jul 23	Pihtipudas
JT	56.86	-	Jul 16	Lapinlahti Savo Games, Lapinlahti
JT	57.20	-	Jul 1	Eurajoki
JT	59.05	-	Jun 24	Kuortane
JT	58.90	-	Jun 15	Helsinki Ericsson GP, Helsinki - GP I Events

1999

4 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JT	58.44	-	Jul 14	Tampere International, Tampere
JT	58.41	-	Jul 11	Pihtipudas
JT	59.46	-	Jun 30	Oslo Mobil Bislett Games
JT	61.61	-	Jun 26	Kuortane Midsummer Games, Kuortane

1998

15 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JavelinThr	63.60	-	Aug 30	Helsinki SWE-FIN, Helsinki
JavelinThr	58.06	-	Aug 28	Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme
JT	60.90	-	Aug 22	Budapest European Championships, Népstadion, Budapest
JavelinThr	62.34	-	Aug 19	Budapest European Championships, Népstadion, Budapest
JavelinThr	60.90	-	Aug 18	Budapest European Championships, Népstadion, Budapest
JavelinThr	62.37	-	Aug 12	Weltklasse Zürich
JavelinThr	61.12	-	Aug 8	Finnish Championships, Oulu
JavelinThr	57.89	-	Aug 7	Finnish Championships, Oulu
JavelinThr	62.11	-	Jul 14	Roma Golden Gala
JavelinThr	62.06	-	Jul 9	Oslo Mobil Bislett Games
JavelinThr	61.38	-	Jul 5	Pihtipudas
JavelinThr	61.41	-	Jul 1	Turku Paavo Nurmi Games, Turku
JavelinThr	62.24	-	Jun 21	Lapinlahti Midsummer Games, Lapinlahti
JavelinThr	60.25	-	Jun 13	Helsinki Ericsson GP, Helsinki
JavelinThr	63.34	-	May 27	Pori

1997

13 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JavelinThr	62.92	-	Aug 29	Stockholm
JavelinThr	64.64	-	Aug 26	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
JavelinThr	65.14	-	Aug 22	Bruxelles Memorial van Damme, Bruxelles
JavelinThr	64.54	-	Aug 16	Monte Carlo Herculis '97, Stade Louis II, Monaco
JavelinThr	60.38	-	Aug 13	Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
JavelinThr	62.64	-	Aug 9	IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
JavelinThr	64.46	-	Aug 7	IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
JavelinThr	63.52	-	Jul 7	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
JavelinThr	63.46	-	Jul 4	Oslo Mobil Bislett Games, Oslo
JavelinThr	59.56	-	Jun 25	Paris Meeting Gaz de France, Paris
JavelinThr	63.44	-	Jun 18	Helsinki Ericsson GP, Helsinki
JavelinThr	63.72	-	Jun 12	Paavo Nurmi Games, Turku
JavelinThr	62.08	-	Feb 10	Tampere

1996

6 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JavelinThr	65.00	-	Sep 7	Milano IAAF Grand Prix Final
JavelinThr	62.78	-	Aug 30	Berlin ISTAF, Berlin
JavelinThr	63.40	-	Aug 23	Helsinki SWE-FIN, Helsinki
JavelinThr	61.80	-	Aug 20	Tampere
JavelinThr	66.30	-	Aug 18	Lahti
JavelinThr	67.82	-	Aug 16	Köln Int. Sparkassen Cup, Köln

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Heli Rantanen's Javelin Throw personal best?

Heli Rantanen's Javelin Throw personal best is 61.61, set on Jun 26, 1999 in Kuortane (FIN), #154 on the all-time list.

Which events does Heli Rantanen compete in?

Heli Rantanen competes in the Javelin Throw.

How did Heli Rantanen perform in 2002?

2002 season best: 45.91, set on Jul 21, 2002 in Joensuu (FIN). Last competition: Finnish Championships on Jul 21, 2002, 45.91.

How many medals has Heli Rantanen won?

Heli Rantanen has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

Heli Rantanen

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

Honours

Frequently asked questions