Pyykkönen, who started for the Puolangan Ryhti, had her first international success at the Junior World Ski Championships in Murau in 1982 . There she won the silver medal with the relay. She completed her first World Cup race in March 1984 in Lahti , which she finished in 42nd place over 5 km. In the 1986/87 season she won her first podium in the World Cup in Lahti with third place with the relay and in Oslo with second with the relay. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1987 in Oberstdorf , she finished 12th over 5 km classic and thus got her first World Cup points. The following year she came in Calgary at her first Olympic participation in 29th place over 10 km classic and 12th place over 5 km classic. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti in 1989 , she ran on 17th place over 10 km freestyle, seventh place over 10 km classic and sixth place over 15 km classic. In the 1989/90 season she came in the top ten three times in the World Cup. In Soldier Hollow , she achieved her only podium finish in the World Cup singles classic with second place over 5 km and her best overall result at the end of the season with tenth place in the overall World Cup. In addition, she was third in the relay in Lahti, Val di Fiemme and Örnsköldsvik . At the Nordic World Ski Championships in February 1991 in Val di Fiemme, she finished 12th over 5 km classic and fourth place with the relay. The following year she won in Kawgolowo with the relay and won 33rd place in the pursuit and 29th place over 5 km classic at the Winter Olympics in Albertville . In the 1992/93 season she reached 22nd place in the overall World Cup with seven placements in the points. At the season highlight, Nordic World Ski Championships in 1993 in Falun , she ran in 13th place over 5 km classic and 15 km classic and fourth place with the relay. In addition, she was third in the season in December 1992 in Val di Fiemme. The following season she came in Lahti in third place with the relay and Santa Caterina in second place with the relay. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer , she achieved 18th place over 5 km classic.
In the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons Pyykkönen reached 19th place and 21st place in the overall World Cup with three top ten placements. At the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1995 in Thunder Bay , she finished 34th over 5 km classic, 11th over 15 km classic and sixth place with the relay. In March 1996 she won third place with the relay in Oslo and in March 1997 in Falun. She had her greatest international success at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim in 1997 . There she won the bronze medal with the relay. In addition, she came in 19th place over 5 km classic. In her last active season 1997/98 she reached with three results in the points, 34th place in the overall World Cup and 30th place in the Sprint World Cup. At the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano in February 1998 , she finished 17th over 5 km classic, 12th over 15 km classic and seventh place with the relay.
Participation in World Championships and Olympic Winter Games
Olympic games
1988 Calgary : 12th place 5 km classic, 13th place 10 km classic
1992 Albertville : 29th place 5 km classic, 33rd place 10 km pursuit
Finland
Kawgolowo