Background
Kaisa Mäkäräinen was born on January 11, 1983 in Ristijärvi, Kainuu, Finland. She is a daughter of Urho Mäkäräinen, a bus driver, and Eira Mäkäräinen, a Physics teacher. Kaisa has two younger brothers, Tuomas and Jaakko.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen
Tulliportinkatu 1, 80130 Joensuu, Finland
The University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu where Kaisa Mäkäräinen studied physics.
2009
Östersund, Sweden
(From left to right) Olga Medvedtseva of Russia, silver medalist, Tora Berger of Norway, winner, and Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrate during the flower ceremony of women's 7.5 km sprint of the E.ON Ruhrgas IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 10 km pursuit event in the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the 2nd palce during the IBU World Cup Biathlon women's 10 km pursuit, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd palce during the IBU World Cup Biathlon women's 10 km pursuit, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2010
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates after the women's pursuit during the E.ON IBU Biathlon World Cup at Chiemgau Arena, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2010
Östersund, Sweden
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Whistler, Canada
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the Biathlon women's 15 km individual on day 7 of the Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Stadium, Whistler, Canada. Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts.
2010
Puttlingen, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the 6th Odlo City Biathlon, Puttlingen, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Östersund, Sweden
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates her victory in the women's pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 7.5 km sprint in the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts.
2010
Östersund, Sweden
(From left to right): Miriam Goessner of Germany, silver medalist, Kaisa Mäkäräinen, gold medalist, and Darya Domracheva of Belarus, bronze medalist, celebrate after the women's sprint during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 7.5 km sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's pursuit event during the E.ON IBU Biathlon World Cup at Chiemgau Arena, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2011
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the 3rd place during the IBU World Cup Biathlon women's 10 km pursuit, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom.
2011
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's sprint during the E.ON IBU World Cup Biathlon, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2012
Hochfilzen, Austria
Synnoeve Solemdal (right) of Norway talks to Kaisa Mäkäräinen in the finish area after winning the women's pursuit event during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2012
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the 3rd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's pursuit, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2012
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen (right) on her way for the 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's sprint, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2012
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 7.5 km sprint during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Oberhof, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2013
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen smiles after finishing sixth in the women's 12.5 km mass start race of the Biathlon World Cup at Chiemgau Arena, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Andreas Gebert/picture alliance.
2013
Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, France
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's sprint, Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, France. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2013
Val di Fiemme, Italy
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the women's cross country individual 10 km at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2014
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 10 km pursuit event during the IBU Biathlon World Cupon, Oberhof, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2014
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 10 km pursuit event during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Oberhof, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2014
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the shooting range during the Biathlon World Cup 12.5 km women's mass start, Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2014
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrating her victory at the Biathlon World Cup 12.5 km women's mass start, Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2014
Olympic records st., 16, Estosadok, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, 354392
Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Desislava Stoyanova of Bulgaria cross the finish line in the women's 7.5 km sprint during day two of the Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center, Russia. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2014
Olympic records st., 16, Estosadok, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, 354392
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 15 km individual race during day seven of the Sochi Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center, Russia. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2015
Gabriela Koukalová of Czech Republic and Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the course during women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2015
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the podium celebrating her victory at women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2015
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the course during women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2016
Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's sprint, Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2016
Oslo, Norway
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the bronze medal during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start, Oslo, Norway. Photo by Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom.
2016
Ostersund, Sweden
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the 10 km women's pursuit, Ostersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2016
Ruhpolding, Germany
Laura Dahlmeier of Germany, Gabriela Koukalová of the Czech Republic, Franziska Hildebrand of Germany and Kaisa Mäkäräinen compete during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's pursuit, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's sprint in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
(From left to right) Susan Dunklee of the United States wins the silver medal; Laura Dahlmeier of Germany wins the gold medal; and Kaisa Mäkäräinen wins the bronze medal of the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to winning the bronze medal during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the shooting at the 10 km women's pursuit event at the Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Martin Schutt/picture alliance.
2017
Schüttachstraße 2, 6395 Hochfilzen, Austria
(From left to right) Susan Dunklee of the United States, Laura Dahlmeier of Germany and Kaisa Mäkäräinen pose for a picture at the flower ceremony of women's 12.5 km mass start competition during the IBU World Championships Biathlon at the Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium, Austria. Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Bongarts.
2017
Schüttachstraße 2, 6395 Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the women's 12.5 km mass start competition of the IBU World Championships Biathlon at the Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium, Austria. Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Bongarts.
2017
Schüttachstraße 2, 6395 Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's sprint at the IBU Biathlon World Championship, the Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium, Austria. Photo by GASPA/ullstein bild.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen (left) competes in the women's 12.5 km mass start event at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 12.5 km mass start event at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
(From left to right) Iryna Kryuko of Belarus, Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Lena Haecki of Switzerland compete during the women's 4x6 km relay on day 13 of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Quinn Rooney.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Tiril Eckhoff of Norway compete during the women's 4x6 km relay on day 13 of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's biathlon 7.5 km sprint on day one of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Matthias Hangst.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen during the Biathlon 2x6 km women's + 2x7.5 km men's mixed relay at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's biathlon 7.5 km sprint on day one of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen cheers at the finish of the women's mass start 12.5 km as the race's winner. Photo by Martin Schutt/picture alliance.
2020
Kontiolahti, Finland
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during a training session for the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon, Kontiolahti, Finland. Photo by Kevin Voigt/DeFodi Images.
2020
Kontiolahti, Finland
Kaisa Mäkäräinen together with the team after the women's 10 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon, in Kontiolahti, Finland. Photo by Kevin Voigt/DeFodi Images.
2020
Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 15 km individual race at the IBU World Championships Biathlon Antholz-Anterselva in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2020
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 10 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen at the shooting range during the women's 10 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 12.5 km mass start at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Oberhof, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 12.5 km mass start at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Oberhof, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen was awarded a big crystal globe for the World Cup Total Score and a mass start crystal globe after the women's 12.5 km mass start event at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
(From left to right) Magdalena Neuner of Germany celebrates her silver medal; Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates her gold medal; and Helena Ekholm of Sweden celebrates her bronze medal after the women's pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 7.5 km sprint, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Silver medalist Kaisa Mäkäräinen poses at an award ceremony for the women's 10 km pursuit competition at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon. Photo by Andrei Anosov/Russian Biathlon Union/TASS.
2018
Kaisa Mäkäräinen received the Holmenkollen Medal, the highest Norwegian honour in skiing, in 2018. Photo by Kaisa Mäkäräinen.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen was awarded a big crystal globe for the World Cup Total Score of the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2009
Östersund, Sweden
(From left to right) Olga Medvedtseva of Russia, silver medalist, Tora Berger of Norway, winner, and Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrate during the flower ceremony of women's 7.5 km sprint of the E.ON Ruhrgas IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 10 km pursuit event in the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the 2nd palce during the IBU World Cup Biathlon women's 10 km pursuit, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd palce during the IBU World Cup Biathlon women's 10 km pursuit, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2010
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates after the women's pursuit during the E.ON IBU Biathlon World Cup at Chiemgau Arena, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2010
Östersund, Sweden
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Whistler, Canada
Kaisa Mäkäräinen smiles during the women's Biathlon Training at the Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver, in Whistler, Canada. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Whistler, Canada
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the Biathlon women's 15 km individual on day 7 of the Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Stadium, Whistler, Canada. Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts.
2010
Puttlingen, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the 6th Odlo City Biathlon, Puttlingen, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Östersund, Sweden
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates her victory in the women's pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2010
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 7.5 km sprint in the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts.
2010
Östersund, Sweden
(From left to right): Miriam Goessner of Germany, silver medalist, Kaisa Mäkäräinen, gold medalist, and Darya Domracheva of Belarus, bronze medalist, celebrate after the women's sprint during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Östersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
(From left to right) Magdalena Neuner of Germany celebrates her silver medal; Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates her gold medal; and Helena Ekholm of Sweden celebrates her bronze medal after the women's pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 7.5 km sprint, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
(From left to right) Kaisa Mäkäräinen, silver medalist, Magdalena Neuner of Germany, gold medalist, and Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia, bronze medalist, pose at the victory ceremony after the women's 7.5 km sprint during the IBU Biathlon World Championships at A.V. Philipenko Winter Sports Centre in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 7.5 km sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom.
2011
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's pursuit event during the E.ON IBU Biathlon World Cup at Chiemgau Arena, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2011
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the 3rd place during the IBU World Cup Biathlon women's 10 km pursuit, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom.
2011
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's sprint during the E.ON IBU World Cup Biathlon, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2012
Hochfilzen, Austria
Synnoeve Solemdal (right) of Norway talks to Kaisa Mäkäräinen in the finish area after winning the women's pursuit event during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2012
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the 3rd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's pursuit, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2012
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen shows her medal of the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/IBU-Pool.
2012
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen (right) on her way for the 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's sprint, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2012
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 7.5 km sprint during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Oberhof, Germany. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2013
Biathlonzentrum 1, 83324 Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen smiles after finishing sixth in the women's 12.5 km mass start race of the Biathlon World Cup at Chiemgau Arena, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Andreas Gebert/picture alliance.
2013
Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, France
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's sprint, Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand, France. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2013
Val di Fiemme, Italy
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the women's cross country individual 10 km at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2014
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 10 km pursuit event during the IBU Biathlon World Cupon, Oberhof, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2014
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 10 km pursuit event during the IBU Biathlon World Cup, Oberhof, Germany. Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts.
2014
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes 1st place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's mass start, Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2014
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the shooting range during the Biathlon World Cup 12.5 km women's mass start, Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2014
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrating her victory at the Biathlon World Cup 12.5 km women's mass start, Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2014
Olympic records st., 16, Estosadok, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, 354392
Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Desislava Stoyanova of Bulgaria cross the finish line in the women's 7.5 km sprint during day two of the Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center, Russia. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2014
Olympic records st., 16, Estosadok, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, 354392
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 15 km individual race during day seven of the Sochi Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center, Russia. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
2014
Sochi, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen with her life partner, Jarkko Siltakorpi, at the Sochi Winter Olympics
2015
Gabriela Koukalová of Czech Republic and Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the course during women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2015
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the podium celebrating her victory at women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2015
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on the course during women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2015
Pokljuka, Slovenia
(From left to right) Gabriela Koukalová of Czech Republic, Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Olga Podchufarova of Russia, winners of women's 12.5 km mass start at the Biathlon World Cup race in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Rok Rakun/Pacific Press/LightRocket.
2016
Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's sprint, Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2016
Holmenkollen Ski Arena, Oslo, Norway
Kaisa Mäkäräinen attends a press conference at the Biathlon World Championships, the Holmenkollen Ski Arena, Oslo, Norway. Photo by Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance.
2016
Holmenkollen Ski Arena, Oslo, Norway
(From left to right) Laura Dahlmeier of Germany, silver medalist, winner Marie Dorin-Habert of France, and third-placed Kaisa Mäkäräinen show their medals for the women's 12.5 km mass start competition at the Biathlon World Championships, in the Holmenkollen Ski Arena, Oslo, Norway. Photo by Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance
2016
Pokljuka, Slovenia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen takes the 2nd place during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's pursuit, Pokljuka, Slovenia. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2016
Oslo, Norway
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to the bronze medal during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start, Oslo, Norway. Photo by Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom.
2016
Ostersund, Sweden
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the 10 km women's pursuit, Ostersund, Sweden. Photo by Christian Manzoni/NordicFocus.
2016
Ruhpolding, Germany
Laura Dahlmeier of Germany, Gabriela Koukalová of the Czech Republic, Franziska Hildebrand of Germany and Kaisa Mäkäräinen compete during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's pursuit, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by Vianney Thibaut/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Silver medalist Kaisa Mäkäräinen poses at an award ceremony for the women's 10 km pursuit competition at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon. Photo by Andrei Anosov/Russian Biathlon Union/TASS.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's sprint in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
(From left to right) Susan Dunklee of the United States wins the silver medal; Laura Dahlmeier of Germany wins the gold medal; and Kaisa Mäkäräinen wins the bronze medal of the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start, Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen on her way to winning the bronze medal during the IBU Biathlon World Championships women's mass start in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen speaks with journalists during a press conference at the Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Martin Schutt/picture alliance.
2017
Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the shooting at the 10 km women's pursuit event at the Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo by Martin Schutt/picture alliance.
2017
Schüttachstraße 2, 6395 Hochfilzen, Austria
(From left to right) Susan Dunklee of the United States, Laura Dahlmeier of Germany and Kaisa Mäkäräinen pose for a picture at the flower ceremony of women's 12.5 km mass start competition during the IBU World Championships Biathlon at the Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium, Austria. Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Bongarts.
2017
Schüttachstraße 2, 6395 Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in action during the women's 12.5 km mass start competition of the IBU World Championships Biathlon at the Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium, Austria. Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Bongarts.
2017
Schüttachstraße 2, 6395 Hochfilzen, Austria
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's sprint at the IBU Biathlon World Championship, the Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium, Austria. Photo by GASPA/ullstein bild.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen was awarded a big crystal globe for the World Cup Total Score of the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen (left) competes in the women's 12.5 km mass start event at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes in the women's 12.5 km mass start event at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2018
Tyumen, Russia
Kaisa Mäkäräinen was awarded a big crystal globe for the World Cup Total Score and a mass start crystal globe after the women's 12.5 km mass start event at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen, Russia. Photo by Sergei Bobylev/TASS.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
(From left to right) Iryna Kryuko of Belarus, Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Lena Haecki of Switzerland compete during the women's 4x6 km relay on day 13 of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Quinn Rooney.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Tiril Eckhoff of Norway compete during the women's 4x6 km relay on day 13 of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's biathlon 7.5 km sprint on day one of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Matthias Hangst.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen during the Biathlon 2x6 km women's + 2x7.5 km men's mixed relay at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson.
2018
Oslo, Norway
Kaisa Mäkäräinen celebrates after winning the overall World Cup globe during the IBU Biathlon World Cup women's 12.5-kilometer mass start race, Oslo, Norway. Photo by Ragnar Singsaas.
2018
Olympic-ro, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's biathlon 7.5 km sprint on day one of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein.
2018
Kaisa Mäkäräinen received the Holmenkollen Medal, the highest Norwegian honour in skiing, in 2018. Photo by Kaisa Mäkäräinen.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen cheers at the finish of the women's mass start 12.5 km as the race's winner. Photo by Martin Schutt/picture alliance.
2020
Kontiolahti, Finland
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during a training session for the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon, Kontiolahti, Finland. Photo by Kevin Voigt/DeFodi Images.
2020
Kontiolahti, Finland
Kaisa Mäkäräinen together with the team after the women's 10 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon, in Kontiolahti, Finland. Photo by Kevin Voigt/DeFodi Images.
2020
Antholz-Anterselva, Italy
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 15 km individual race at the IBU World Championships Biathlon Antholz-Anterselva in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
2020
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 10 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Ruhpolding, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen at the shooting range during the women's 10 km pursuit at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 12.5 km mass start at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Oberhof, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Kaisa Mäkäräinen competes during the women's 12.5 km mass start at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Oberhof, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Oberhof, Germany
Tiril Eckhoff of Norway, Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Marte Olsbu Roeiseland of Norway at the medal ceremony during the women's 12.5 km mass start at the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Oberhof, Germany. Photo by TF-Images.
2020
Kaisa Mäkäräinen knitting. Photo from the official Instagram account of Kaisa Mäkäräinen.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen
Tulliportinkatu 1, 80130 Joensuu, Finland
The University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu where Kaisa Mäkäräinen studied physics.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen in childhood
Kaisa Mäkäräinen and her life partner Jarkko Siltakorpi attend a public event.
Urho Mäkäräinen, Kaisa Mäkäräinen's father
Kaisa Mäkäräinen with her mother Eira
Kaisa Mäkäräinen with her life partner, Jarkko Siltakorpi
Jonne Kähkönen, the coach of the Finnish biathlon team
Jarmo Punkkinen, Kaisa Mäkäräinen's ski coach. Photo by Yle.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen was born on January 11, 1983 in Ristijärvi, Kainuu, Finland. She is a daughter of Urho Mäkäräinen, a bus driver, and Eira Mäkäräinen, a Physics teacher. Kaisa has two younger brothers, Tuomas and Jaakko.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen, raised in the small town of Ristijärvi, central Finland, where cross-country skiing was a common free-time activity, participated in her skiing competition from an early age. At four, she won her first race. She studied at Ristijärvi high school and attended Sotkamo sports school from 1999 to 2002.
Following in her mother's footsteps who served as a Physics teacher, Kaisa entered the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu with an intention to pursue a career in teaching. It was at the university that she first came across biathlon while watching her comrades compete at the amateur level during their off studies time at a ski stadium in a nearby town.
Soon, she joined her friends and within the time excelled to such an extent that won the national championship. The victory qualified her for the World Junior Championship.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen emerged in an athletic career as a cross-country skier. She skipped to the biathlon in the early 2000s, starting her first training sessions in the sport in 2003. Kontiolahti Sport Club became first for Kaisa. A year later, she joined the Finnish national team and competed in the World Junior Biathlon Championships the next year. The debut at the senior level occurred in the 2004/2005 season, at the Biathlon World Championships in Austrian Hochfilzen. Both sports events were poor for the budding biathlete as she finished behind the top fifty in almost all races.
The first victories at the World Cup came to Kaisa two seasons later when she finished third two times, in the sprint in Pokljuka, Slovenia, and in the pursuit in Ruhpolding, Germany. By 2009, the biathlete had improved her results to silver medals. That career progress was however overshadowed by a serious knee injury which was even expected by many doctors as the possible necessity to stop competing. Fortunately, after operations, including that on her eyes, and a two-month period of rehabilitation, Mäkäräinen came back to the sport. Given the health problems, the 2009/2010 season came to be a recession.
The first Olympic Games for Kaisa which was held in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada, didn't please the Finnish biathlete with medals as well. Placed behind the top forty in the individual race, sprint and pursuit, she didn't even manage to qualify for the mass start. The 46th place was her best at the sports event.
In the first post-Olympic season, however, Mäkäräinen worked all her misfortunes out and triumphed properly. Missing no races in the 2010/2011 season, she earned gold medals in the sprint and pursuit in Östersund and became a 2011 World Champion in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, winning gold in the pursuit and adding silver in the sprint to her collection of medals. The first rank in the overall standings of the World Cup was ensured to Kaisa following the season. Besides, she finished 1st in the pursuit overall and received the first small crystal globe.
The main achievements of Kaisa Mäkäräinen during the 2011-2012 season were gold medals in the 15 km individual race in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic, and in the pursuit in Finnish Kontiolahti. The 2012 World Championships in Ruhpolding ended up for Kaisa with the bronze trophy only, in the mass start. She placed 4th in the overall standings following the season. Though the next season turned out to be entirely poor for victories as she didn't grab any World Cup trophies and didn't win any World Championships' medals, she placed only one spot lower in the overall standings.
The 2013/2014 season was marked by four World Cup victories. The major sport event of the four years, held in 2014 in Sochi, Russia, wasn't successful again for the Finnish biathlete. She simply bested her personal result for pursuit finishing 16th and made the top 10 in both the individual race and the mass start. Nevertheless, she managed to lead the World Cup overall standings that provided her with the second big crystal globe. She topped the World Cup Overall sprint and individual race rankings following the season as well.
The season following the Olympics came to be quite rich in the World Cup victories for Kaisa. She was the first in the 10 km pursuit in Östersund, Sweden, triumphed in the sprint and pursuit in Hochfilzen and crowned all that with a gold medal in the mass start in Slovenian Pokljuka. The 2015 World Championships in Kontiolahti provided her with the bronze in the 15 km Individual race. The medal record of the season was completed by the first ranks in the individual in Holmenkollen and in the 7.5 km sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk. She placed 2nd in the World Cup overall but won World Overall titles for sprint and pursuit.
By 2016, Mäkäräinen had collected 62 World Cup podiums. Prior to the next Winter Olympics, the Finnish biathlete had grabbed 2 golds and 4 silvers at the World Cup stages and had the World Championships bronze in the mass start. The illness was an impediment for Kaisa to reach the podiums at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, third in her athletic career. Though, the Finnish biathlon queen took her third big crystal globe surpassing Anastasia Kuzmina of Slovakia and third-placed overall Belarusian Rocket Darya Domracheva.
The 2018/2019 season began from the World Cup victories for Mäkäräinen. Though, the medals of the 2019 World Championships were taken by Kuzmina in the sprint, Denise Herrmann of Germany in the pursuit and Swedish Hanna Oberg in the individual race and Dorothea Wierer of Italy in the mass start. The next season, the 15th in Kaisa's athletic career, became the last for her. She announced her retirement from competitive biathlon on March 14, 2020.
Competing for medals in biathlon, Kaisa Mäkäräinen kept on taking part in the cross-country skiing events from time to time, as at the beginning of her athletic career, in particular the FIS Cross-Country World Cup and the Nordic Skiing World Championships. She has also participated in the World Championships on roller skis. She has served as an expert for the Yle's Sports Studio's TV broadcasts.
Though Kaisa Mäkäräinen didn't manage to become an Olympic Champion during her outstanding career, she is certainly one of the most highly respected and loved biathletes all over the world. Every victory of Kaisa has always been perceived as a personal win by her fans and supporters.
The lack of Olympic trophies didn't disturb Kaisa to gather an impressive collection of sports awards. A World Champion, vice-champion and bronze medalist of the World Championships, Mäkäräinen won three big crystal globes and six small globes in fifteen years spent in biathlon. She took the World Cup podium 85 times, including 27 victories. Besides, she is a four-time champion in summer biathlon and two-time champion of Finland in cross-country skiing.
In 2011, Kaisa was named the Finnish Sports Personality of the Year. She is also a recipient of the Holmenkollen Medal, the highest Norwegian honour in skiing.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen is of the opinion that family life and career are incompatible.
Quotations:
"I'm always a bit pessimistic, this seems to be my nature. But then, of course, I know that if I shoot clean, I can win. There are many others who can't win when they hit all their targets."
"I like the tracks in Korea, especially the big uphills. So, if I ski OK and have only one or two penalties in the pursuit or mass start, then I will have good results even though I don't like the evening races. The floodlights are not in my favor and I can't keep full tension until the evening."
Kaisa Mäkäräinen likes tennis and football and she is a fan of Manchester United Football Club. Her favorite books as of a reading lover are Jo Nesbø's detectives and Anatomy of Victory by Dr Aki Hintsa. She also enjoys knitting. As to food, Mäkäräinen prefers Italian cuisine, and in fact, she has stated Rome as one of her favorite cities. In addition to Finnish, Mäkäräinen speaks English, Swedish and German.
The shooting was Kaisa's quite weak side as of a biathlete. Though, her skiing abilities were often compared to those of Uschi Disl, Magdalena Neuner, both of Germany, and Tora Berger of Norway.
Physical Characteristics: Kaisa Mäkäräinen is 1.71 meters tall. Mäkäräinen contracted asthma at the age of fifteen. She has also undergone operations on her knee and eyes. Practicing sports helps her to support her health.
Kaisa Mäkäräinen isn't married but she has a life partner, Jarkko Siltakorpi. The house the couple moved into in 2016 was built according to designs by Kaisa herself. There is even a special room for all her athletic accolades. Jarkko was an avid support of his beloved and accompanied her at almost all the biathlon sports events while she still competed.
In the past, Jarkko practiced skiing. He has been a serviceman of the Canadian biathlon national team and has collaborated with the organizers of the biathlon and cross-country races. He was also Kaisa's ski coach for a while.
(born September 6, 1973)
(born March 19, 1951)
Jarmo Punkkinen was a ski coach of Kaisa Mäkäräinen.
