Photo: Christof Sonderegger—CC BY-SA 4.0

Tapio Kantanen

Birth dateMay 31, 1949

BirthplaceHeinola, Finland

Height1.75 m

Weight78 kg

Tapio Kantanen (born 31 May 1949) is a Finnish former athlete who mainly competed in the 3,000 metre steeple chase. He competed for Finland at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Germany where he won the bronze medal in the 3,000 metres steeplechase event. He also competed in the 5,000 metres at Munich, but did not qualify for the final. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he finished fourth in the 3,000 metres steeplechase.

Key facts

3000 m steeplechase

8:12.60

#157 all-time

3000 m

7:51.2h

1980 season best

8:29.40

Jul 5, 1980 · Lappeenranta (FIN)

1980 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 bronze

Age

77 years old

As of Sep 16, 2026: 3000 m steeplechase 8:12.60 (#157 all-time), 3000 m 7:51.2h, 1980 season best 8:29.40 (Jul 5, 1980, Lappeenranta (FIN)) · Olympic Games: 1 bronze · 77 years old

Personal bests

3:45.8HT

7:51.2HT

13:34.4HT

28:30.0HT

8:12.60

13:49.4HT

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	-	-	1	1

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1980	3000mSt	8:29.40	-	Jul 5, 1980	↑	Lappeenranta (FIN)
1980	CrossCount	38:48.3	-	Mar 9, 1980	↓	8th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1979	3000mSt	8:31.0h	-	Jun 19, 1979	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1978	3000mSt	8:31.03	-	Jul 10, 1978	↑	Kouvola (FIN)
1978	5000m	13:45.3h	-	Jul 27, 1978	↓	Turku (FIN)
1977	3000mSt	8:28.6h	-	Aug 7, 1977	↑	Pietarsaari (FIN)
1977	10000m	28:40.98	-	May 19, 1977	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1976	1500m	3:45.8h	-	Jun 6, 1976	-	Orimattila (FIN)
1976	3000m	7:55.0h	-	Jun 25, 1976	↓	Keuruu (FIN)
1976	3000mSt	8:12.60	-	Jul 28, 1976	↑	The XXI Olympic Games
1976	5000m	13:34.4h	-	Aug 16, 1976	↓	Tampere (FIN)
1976	10000m	28:36.3h	-	May 20, 1976	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1976	CrossCount	35:28	-	Feb 28, 1976	↓	4th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1975	3000m	7:51.2h	-	Jul 3, 1975	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1975	3000mSt	8:17.87	-	Jun 6, 1975	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1975	5000m	13:37.0h	-	Aug 7, 1975	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1975	10000m	28:48.4h	-	Jun 17, 1975	↓	Kokkola (FIN)
1974	3000mSt	8:19.73	-	Jun 26, 1974	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1974	10000m	28:43.0h	-	Jun 12, 1974	↓	Kokkola (FIN)
1974	CrossCount	36:12.6	-	Mar 16, 1974	↓	2nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1973	3000mSt	8:24.14	-	Jul 3, 1973	↑	Stockholm (SWE)
1973	5000m	13:49.4h	-	Feb 25, 1973	↓	Turku (FIN) (i)
1973	5000m-short-track	13:49.4h	-	Feb 25, 1973	-	Turku (FIN) (i)
1973	10000m	28:30.0h	-	Aug 10, 1973	↓	Hyvinkää (FIN)
1973	CrossCount	36:05	-	Mar 17, 1973	↓	1st IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1972	3000mSt	8:21.0h	-	Sep 14, 1972	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1972	5000m	13:42.0h	-	Sep 7, 1972	↓	Olympiastadion, München (GER)
1972	10000m	28:38.8h	-	May 25, 1972	↓	Otaniemi (FIN)
1971	3000mSt	8:35.88	-	Aug 13, 1971	↑	Helsinki European Championships

1980

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:29.40	-	Jul 5	Lappeenranta
CrossCount	38:48.3	-	Mar 9	8th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

1979

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:31.0HT	-	Jun 19	Helsinki
3000mSt	8:35.9HT	-	Jun 17	Bruxelles

1978

9 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:46.0HT	-	Sep 1	Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha
3000mSt	8:46.0HT	-	Aug 29	Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha
3000mSt	8:32.6HT	-	Aug 15	Kerava
3000mSt	8:35.22	-	Aug 13	Helsinki FIN-SWE, Helsinki
3000mSt	8:31.1HT	-	Aug 5	Kokkola NC, Kokkola
5000m	13:45.3HT	-	Jul 27	Paavo Nurmi Games, Turku
3000mSt	8:31.2HT	-	Jul 24	Hyvinkää
3000mSt	8:31.03	-	Jul 10	Kouvola FIN-ITA, Kouvola
3000mSt	8:31.29	-	Jun 15	Helsinki

1977

7 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:34.19	-	Sep 1	Bydgoszcz POL-FIN, Bydgoszcz
3000mSt	8:33.5HT	-	Aug 28	Stockholm SWE-FIN, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:33.27	-	Aug 14	European Cup Final A, Helsinki
3000mSt	8:28.6HT	-	Aug 7	Pietarsaari
3000mSt	8:30.8HT	-	Jul 30	Tampere NC, Tampere
3000mSt	8:35.60	-	Jun 7	Helsinki
10000m	28:40.98	-	May 19	Helsinki

1976

19 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:27.35	-	Sep 5	Helsinki vsFIN, Helsinki
3000mSt	8:29.6HT	-	Sep 1	Köln
3000mSt	8:29.8HT	-	Aug 24	Pietarsaari
3000m	7:59.4HT	-	Aug 18	Raahe
5000m	13:34.4HT	-	Aug 16	Tampere
3000mSt	8:35.36	-	Aug 11	Helsinki
3000mSt	8:17.72	-	Aug 10	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:12.60	-	Jul 28	The XXI Olympic Games
3000mSt	8:20.82	-	Jul 25	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal
3000mSt	8:18.02	-	Jul 5	Stockholm
3000mSt	8:19.64	-	Jul 3	Turku NC, Turku
3000m	7:55.0HT	-	Jun 25	Keuruu
3000mSt	8:18.34	-	Jun 23	Helsinki
3000mSt	8:28.31	-	Jun 12	-
3000mSt	8:18.18	-	Jun 8	Stockholm
1500m	3:45.8HT	-	Jun 6	Orimattila
3000mSt	8:35.0HT	-	Jun 3	Helsinki
10000m	28:36.3HT	-	May 20	Helsinki
CrossCount	35:28	-	Feb 28	4th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

1975

11 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000mSt	8:28.6	-	Aug 17	-
5000m	13:37.0HT	-	Aug 7	Helsinki
3000mSt	8:29.87	-	Aug 3	-
3000mSt	8:30.0HT	-	Aug 3	Stockholm SWEvFIN, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:25.2	-	Jul 13	-
3000m	7:51.2HT	-	Jul 3	Oslo
3000mSt	8:19.54	-	Jul 1	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
3000mSt	8:26.24	-	Jun 26	-
3000mSt	8:27.8HT	-	Jun 22	Saarijärvi
3000m	7:58.0HT	-	Jun 20	Keuruu
10000m	28:48.4HT	-	Jun 17	Kokkola

Showing 1 - 50 of 91

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Tapio Kantanen's 3000 m steeplechase personal best?

Tapio Kantanen's 3000 m steeplechase personal best is 8:12.60, set on Jul 28, 1976 in Olympic Stadium, Montréal (CAN), #157 on the all-time list.

Which events does Tapio Kantanen compete in?

Tapio Kantanen competes in the 3000 m steeplechase and 3000 m.

How did Tapio Kantanen perform in 1980?

1980 season best: 8:29.40, set on Jul 5, 1980 in Lappeenranta (FIN).

How many medals has Tapio Kantanen won?

Tapio Kantanen has won 1 Olympic Games medal.

Tapio Kantanen

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

Honours

Frequently asked questions