Määttä was a member of the Finnish national team for more than ten years. She took part in four Olympic Winter Games (1984-1994) and seven World Championships (1982-1995).
Määttä experienced her first Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo in 1984 . There she competed in the individual races over 5, 10 and 20 kilometers and finished in places 10, 19 and 9. In the relay competition she won the bronze medal with her teammates Eija Hyytiäinen , Marjo Matikainen and Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen . Four years later, at the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary , she reached places 16 and 7 over 5 and 10 kilometers. Again she won a bronze medal in the relay competition with Hämäläinen, Matikainen and Jaana Savolainen . At the following Winter Games in 1992 and 1994 , the Finnish relay reached fourth place. Määttä finished between 9th and 17th in the individual races.
Määttä had the most successful World Cup participation in 1989 in Lahti . There she achieved the silver medal behind her compatriot Kirvesniemi in the individual race over 10 kilometers in classic style . She finished the competition over 15 kilometers in third place, behind Matikaninen and Kirvesniemi. These three won the relay competition together with Savolainen. The Finnish women's relay achieved fourth place several times with Määttä ( 1982 , 1985 , 1991 , 1993 ). Määttä's best individual results outside of the medal positions were fifth over 15 kilometers in 1991 and sixth over 5 kilometers in 1993.
Määttä could never win a World Cup race, but reached the podium three times in the 1988/89 season . Over 5 and 10 kilometers she came second and third over 15 kilometers. Her best results in the overall World Cup were ninth in 1985/86 and 1988/89 .
Web links
Pirkko Määttä in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
Finland
