Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Finland

87 days remaining until the opening ceremonies at Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Finland.

Finland was among the participants of the first winter Olympic games at Chamonix 1924. They have had an athlete qualify for the winter games ever since. Finnish winter athletes have won 156 medals total, including 41 gold medals in the winter games.

The most successful Finnish athlete in the winter games is the late speed skater Clas Thunberg (pictured). Thunberg won five gold medals in the winter games, including twice in the 1500m speed skating event at Chamonix 1924 and St. Moritz 1928. He also won the even larger 5000m event at Chamonix, as well as the 500m at St. Moritz, and also won men's all around at Chamonix 1924.

Ski jumper Matti Nykanen (pictured) won four gold medals in the large hill events; individually at Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988, and in the team event as well as the individual normal hill event, both at Calgary.

Four Fins won three gold medals in the winter games. Veikko Hakulinen won three gold medals in three cross country events: in the 50k at Oslo 1952, in the 30k at Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 and was a member of the 4x10k relay at Squaw Valley 1960. Eero Mantyranta won three times, and just like Hakulinen, also won cross country events. He was a member of the 4x10k team that won gold at Squaw Valley 1960, and would later win twice in the 15k and in the 30k, both at Innsbruck 1964. Marja Lisa Hamalainen won gold three times, and also in cross country events. She won the 5k, 10k and 20k races at Sarajevo 1984. Finally, Samppa Lajunen won three gold medals in Nordic combined event. He won all three-in the team, individual and sprint events-at Salt Lake City 2002.

Three Fins have won gold twice in the winter games. Heikki Hasu first won gold in the individual Nordic combined at St. Moritz 1948, before winning gold again at Oslo 1952 as a part of the 4x10k relay team. Ari Pekka Nikola won twice as a member of the men's large hill team event at Calgary 1988 and again at Albertville 1992. Toni Nieminen also won twice in the ski jumping events. He won in large hill individual and again as a part of the large hill team, and both at Albertville 1992.

As of now, the Finnish delegation for Sochi will expect to have 100-110 athletes, including men and women's ice hockey, biathlon, speed skating, curling, skiing, and cross country.

Up next: France