Background
Hanhijoki was born in Rautalampi and represented the club Vesannon Urheilijat.
Hanhijoki was born in Rautalampi and represented the club Vesannon Urheilijat.
In her early career she competed in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1983 World Championships, and in the 100 metres at the 1986 European Championships without reaching the final. She competed at 60 metres and 200 metres at the 1988 European Indoor Championships and the 1989 World Indoor Championships without reaching the final. She also finished sixth in the 200 metres.
At the 1990 European Championships she reached the semi-final of both the 100 metres and semi-final of the 200 metres.
At the 1991 World Indoor Championships she finished eighth in the 60 metres and sixth in the 200 metres. At the 1991 World Championships she only reached the quarter-final of the 100 metres and semi-final of the 200 metres.
The Finnish team also participated in the relay. At the 1992 Olympic Games she reached the semi-final of both the 100 and 200 metres, but only round one of the 4 x 100 metres relay.
She also finished eighth at the 1992 IAAF World Cup.
At the 1993 World Indoor Championships she reached the semi-final of both the 60 metres and sixth in the 200 metres. At the 1993 World Championships she competed in the 4 x 100 metres relay. The hegemony in Finnish women"s sprint was taken over by Sanna Kyllönen, née Hernesniemi.
She also co-holds the Finnish record in the relay.