Valentin Kononen (born 7 March 1969) is a Finnish former race walker. His competitive accomplishments include winning several medals in major competitions, which ranks him as one of the top Finnish performer in his sport.
Kononen's most notable achievement was winning a gold medal in the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Gothenburg. He also won silver medals in the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart and the 1998 European Championships in Budapest.
Fastest 50km race results 3.39.34 (1) Dudince 26 March 2000 3.41.09 (3) Poděbrady 20 April 1997 (World Race Walking Cup) 3.42.02 (2) Stuttgart 21 August 1993 (World Championships) 3.42.50 (3) Beijing 30 April 1995 3.43.42 (1) Gothenburg 11 August 1995 3.44.28 (2) Budapest 21 August 1998 (European Championships) 3.45.19 (2) Naumburg 28 April 1996 3.47.14 (7) Helsinki 13 August 1994 (European Championships) 3.47.40 (7) Atlanta 2 August 1996 (Olympic Games) 3.48.50 (9) Dudince 25 April 1998
Achievements Representing 1990European ChampionshipsSplit, Yugoslavia6th50 km4:03:071991World ChampionshipsTokyo, Japan5th50 km4:02:341992Olympic GamesBarcelona, Spain7th50 km3:57:21 1993World Race Walking CupMonterrey, Mexico6th50 km3:57:28World ChampionshipsStuttgart, Germany50 km3:42:021994European ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland7th50 km3:47:14 1995World Race Walking CupBeijing, PR China 3rd50 km3:42:50World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden50 km3:43:421996Olympic GamesAtlanta, United States7th50 km3:47:401997World ChampionshipsAthens, Greece9th50 km3:53:401998European ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary50 km3:44:281999World ChampionshipsSeville, Spain—50 kmDNF2000Olympic GamesSydney, Australia—50 kmDSQ
References