Vesa Tapio Hietalahti (born September 27, 1969 in Kauhajoki ) is a former Finnish biathlete . After his active career, Hietalahti became a coach and coached the national team of Finland, among others.
Hietalahti started for the Kauhajoen Karhu club in his hometown. He made his debut in the 1989/90 season in the Biathlon World Cup . In the 1994/95 season he achieved his first World Cup victory in the 20 km individual in March 1995 in Lillehammer . In the following season 1995/96 he won again in December in Östersund in a single. The third and final victory in a World Cup race was achieved in the 2001 season shortly before Christmas at the mass start in Brezno-Osrblie , and in the same season, with ninth place, he also had his only place in the top ten of the overall World Cup. In addition to these three victories, he was six times on the second and four times on the third step of the winner's podium, one of these third places he achieved with the relay - with the cast of Ville Räikkönen , Hietalahti, Mikko Uusipaikka and Paavo Puurunen , Finland surprised at the World Cup in Ruhpolding 1999 . Hietalahti celebrated his greatest success at the 2003 Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk , Siberia , where he won the silver medal in the 20 km individual competition behind the Norwegian Halvard Hanevold . This was also his last podium in the World Cup.
There are numerous national championship titles for Hietalahti, in 2002 he won the individual at the Finnish Championships, in 2003 the pursuit, in the sprint and pursuit he won in 2005. In addition, he was already 1997 in the summer biathlon (cross-country run) with the 4 × 6 km relay of his club Kauhajoen Karhu Finnish Champion. At times he took part - also internationally - in cross-country races. Hietalahti has been working as a coach since the end of his active career, including being the national coach of Finland, and has been a full-time coach at his home club since 2015.
Results in the World Cup
The table shows all placements (depending on the year, including the Olympic Games and World Championships).
1st - 3rd Place: Number of podium placements
Top 10: Number of placements in the top ten (including podium)
Points ranks: Number of placements within the point ranks (including podium and top 10)
Starts: Number of races run in the respective discipline
Finland
