Pekka Tahti’s is one of Finland’s most successful sport stars having won four Paralympic golds and one world title during an illustrious career.
Born in Pori in 1983, the ‘Flying Fin’ took up athletics aged 15 and took part in his first Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004 where he won gold in the 100m (14.19) and 200m (25.25) T54 events.
Two years later at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships he picked up bronze medals in both the 100m (14.51) and 200m (25.85).
In the 100m at the Beijing Paralympics he showed he meant business early on smashing the world record in the heats (13.76). Although he went slightly slower in the final (13.81) he still managed to take gold and retain his Paralympic title.
He was not as successful in the 200m (25.17) however and had to settle for bronze.
At the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand he picked up gold in the 100m (14.14) and silver in the 200m (25.25).
London 2012 saw Pekka Tahti land his third consecutive 100m Paralympic title. In the heats he set a new world record time (13.63) and although slightly slower in the final (13.79) he still managed to take top spot on the podium.
