Lajunen retires

Sampaa Lajunen, who won three gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, has decided to put an early end to his Nordic combined career. The Finn, who finished third in the World Cup standings at the end of the 2003-2004 season, has decided to concentra

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

Unable to retrieve his dazzling form from two years ago, when he won Olympic golds in the individual, sprint and teams events, Lajunen put an end to his career at only 25 years of age.

Winner of 20 World Cup victories and two overall crystal globe titles (2000, 1997), Lajunen was only able to claim one win this season -- in Nayoro, Japan -- and considered it inadequate to continue.

The multi-talented Jyväskylä native, who sings, plays guitar and writes his own music, is the leader of the popular Finnish group Vieraileva Tähti.

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