Salonen, which started for the Vahdon Tuisku, had its first international success at the Junior World Ski Championships in 1992 in Vuokatti . There she won the gold medal with the relay. The following year she finished 20th at the Junior World Ski Championships in Harrachov over 15 km freestyle and ninth place over 5 km classic. She made her debut in the World Cup in January 1995 in Lahti , which she finished in tenth place with the relay. Her first individual race in the World Cup took place in March 1996, also in Lahti, and achieved 31st place in the 10 km freestyle. In the 1996/97 season she got her first World Cup points in Kawgolowo with the 25th place over 15 km freestyle and achieved third place with the relay in Falun . At the season highlight, the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1997 in Trondheim , she won the bronze medal with the relay. Her best placement in the individual there was 12th place over 5 km classic. The following year she came at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano on the 18th place over 5 km classic and 15 km classic, on the 16th place in the pursuit and on the seventh place with the relay. In the 1998/99 season she achieved eight places in the points, two of which were in the top ten, 22nd place in the overall World Cup, her best overall result. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1999 in Ramsau am Dachstein , she ran to 18th place over 5 km classic, 14th place over 30 km classic and 11th place with the relay. In December 2000 she was third with the season in Santa Caterina .
In the 2001/02 season Salonen came in the top ten three times in the World Cup. In the Val di Fiemme she achieved her best individual placement in the World Cup with fifth place in the 15 km mass start race and 30th place in the overall World Cup at the end of the season. At the highlight of the season, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City , she took 36th place in the skiathlon and seventh place over 10 km classic and relay. In the 2003/04 season she achieved ten results in the points, 29th place in the overall World Cup and 22nd place in the Distance World Cup. In addition, she was third in Umeå with the relay. She completed her last World Cup race in November 2005 in Kuusamo , which she finished in 58th place over 10 km freestyle. In 2005 and 2006 she won the Finlandia-hiihto classic over 60 km.
Participation in World Championships and Olympic Winter Games
Olympic games
1998 Nagano : 7th place relay, 16th place 10 km pursuit freestyle, 18th place 15 km classic, 18th place 5 km classic
2002 Salt Lake City : 7th place in relay, 7th place 10 km classic, 36th place 10 km skiathlon
Nordic World Ski Championships
1997 Trondheim : 3rd place relay, 12th place 5 km classic, 19th place 10 km pursuit freestyle, 22nd place 30 km classic, 26th place 15 km freestyle
Finland
