# Aino-Kaisa Saarinen

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (born 1 February 1979) is a retired Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the World Cup between 1998 and 2018. With 354 individual World Cup starts, Saarinen is the current record holder for both men and women, with Stefanie Böhler in second place with 343.

## Career

Competing in two Winter Olympics, she won three bronze medals with one in 2006 (Team sprint) and two in 2010 (30 km, 4 × 5 km relay).
Saarinen also won six medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with four golds (Team sprint: 2009, 10 km: 2009, 4 × 5 km relay: 2007, 2009) and two bronze (7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit: 2009, 10 km: 2011). She has six individual victories in FIS races since 2002, but did not win her first World Cup event until she won the 30 km classical event at the Holmenkollen ski festival on 17 March 2007.
Saarinen finished second in the 2008/09 Tour de Ski behind Virpi Kuitunen.

## Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

### Olympic Games

* 5 medals – (2 silver, 3 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km  individual | 15 km  skiathlon | 30 km  mass start | Sprint | 4 × 5 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 2006 | 27 | 7 | — | 17 | 26 | 7 | Bronze |
| 2010 | 31 | 15 | 5 | Bronze | 13 | Bronze | — |
| 2014 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 21 | — | Silver | Silver |
| 2018 | 39 | — | — | 20 | 25 | 4 | — |

### World Championships

* 10 medals – (4 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km | 15 km | Pursuit | 30 km | Sprint | 4 × 5 km  relay | Team  sprint |
| 2001 | 22 | — | — | — | CNX | 11 | — | — |
| 2003 | 24 | — | 25 | — | 22 | 29 | — | — |
| 2005 | 26 | — | — | 30 | 4 | 8 | 5 | — |
| 2007 | 28 | — | — | 6 | 4 | 18 | Gold | — |
| 2009 | 30 | Gold | — | Bronze | 7 | — | Gold | Gold |
| 2011 | 32 | Bronze | — | 8 | 23 | — | Bronze | Silver |
| 2013 | 34 | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 36 | — | — | 15 | 7 | 18 | Bronze | — |
| 2017 | 38 | — | — | — | 14 | — | Bronze | 5 |
    'a.' $^1$ Cancelled due to extremely cold weather.

### World Cup
#### Season standings

| Season | Age | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Discipline standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings | Ski Tour standings |
| Season | Age | Overall | Distance | Long Distance | Middle Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening | Tour de Ski | World Cup Final | Ski Tour Canada |
| 1998 | 19 | NC | — | NC | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 20 | NC | — | NC | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 21 | 49 | — | NC | NC | 31 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | 22 | 28 | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 23 | 62 | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | 24 | 27 | — | — | — | 33 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | 25 | 14 | 16 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 26 | 8 | 17 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 27 | 12 | 13 | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 28 | 5 | | — | — | 7 | — | 4 | — | — |
| 2008 | 29 | 9 | 8 | — | — | 6 | — | 17 | 11 | — |
| 2009 | 30 | | | — | — | 5 | — | | 16 | — |
| 2010 | 31 | 4 | 6 | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 9 | — |
| 2011 | 32 | 9 | 7 | — | — | 19 | — | 13 | 13 | — |
| 2012 | 33 | 8 | 8 | — | — | 20 | 7 | 9 | 27 | — |
| 2013 | 34 | 26 | 21 | — | — | 35 | 31 | DNF | 18 | — |
| 2014 | 35 | 13 | 8 | — | — | 21 | 28 | 9 | 24 | — |
| 2015 | 36 | 29 | 28 | — | — | 46 | — | 13 | — | — |
| 2016 | 37 | NC | NC | — | — | NC | 43 | — | — | — |
| 2017 | 38 | 24 | 21 | — | — | 41 | — | 17 | 19 | — |
| 2018 | 39 | 22 | 19 | — | — | 38 | 32 | 15 | 23 | — |

#### Individual podiums

* 4 victories – (3 WC, 1 SWC)
* 35 podiums – (24 WC, 11 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
| 1 | 2002–03 | 8 March 2003 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 2 | 2004–05 | 16 March 2005 | Gothenburg, Sweden | 1.0 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 3 | 2005–06 | 22 October 2005 | Düsseldorf, Germany | 0.8 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 4 | 2006–07 | 13 December 2006 | Cogne, Italy | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 5 | 2006–07 | 6 January 2007 | Cavalese, Italy | 15 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 6 | 2006–07 | 20 January 2007 | Rybinsk, Russia | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 7 | 2006–07 | 14 March 2007 | Drammen, Norway | 1.0 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 8 | 2006–07 | 17 March 2007 | Oslo, Norway | 30 km Individual C | World Cup | 1st |
| 9 | 2007–08 | 8 December 2007 | Davos, Switzerland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 10 | 2007–08 | 28 December 2007 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 3.3 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 11 | 2007–08 | 2 January 2008 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 10 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 12 | 2007–08 | 9 February 2008 | Otepää, Estonia | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 13 | 2007–08 | 23 February 2008 | Falun, Sweden | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 14 | 2008–09 | 22 November 2008 | Gällivare, Sweden | 10 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 15 | 2008–09 | 30 November 2008 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 1st |
| 16 | 2008–09 | 6 December 2008 | La Clusaz, France | 15 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 2nd |
| 17 | 2008–09 | 13 December 2008 | Davos, Switzerland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 18 | 2008–09 | 29 December 2008 | Prague, Czech Republic | 1.3 km Sprint F | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 19 | 2008–09 | 31 December 2008 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 9 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 20 | 2008–09 | 1 January 2009 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 1.2 km Sprint F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 21 | 2008–09 | 3 January 2009 | Val di Fiemme, Italy | 10 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 22 | 2008–09 | 27 December 2008 – 4 January 2009 | Tour de Ski | Overall Standings | World Cup | 2nd |
| 23 | 2008–09 | 24 January 2009 | Otepää, Estonia | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 24 | 2008–09 | 25 January 2009 | Otepää, Estonia | 1.2 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 25 | 2008–09 | 18 March 2009 | Stockholm, Sweden | 1.0 km Sprint C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 26 | 2009–10 | 29 November 2009 | Rukatunturi, Finland | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 1st |
| 27 | 2009–10 | 13 December 2009 | Davos, Switzerland | 1.0 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 28 | 2009–10 | 2 January 2010 | Oberhof, Germany | 10 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 29 | 2009–10 | 3 January 2010 | Oberhof, Germany | 1.6 km Sprint C | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 30 | 2009–10 | 7 January 2010 | Cortina–Toblach, Italy | 5 km Individual C | Stage World Cup | 2nd |
| 31 | 2009–10 | 16 January 2010 | Otepää, Estonia | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 32 | 2009–10 | 17 January 2010 | Otepää, Estonia | 1.2 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd |
| 33 | 2009–10 | 11 March 2010 | Drammen, Norway | 1.0 km Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd |
| 34 | 2010–11 | 4 February 2011 | Rybinsk, Russia | 7.5 km + 7.5 km Pursuit C/F | World Cup | 3rd |
| 35 | 2010–11 | 19 February 2011 | Drammen, Norway | 10 km Individual C | World Cup | 3rd |

#### Team podiums

* 3 victories – (2 RL, 1 TS)
* 26 podiums – (20 RL, 6 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
| 1 | 2000–01 | 13 January 2001 | Soldier Hollow, United States | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Rauhala / Välimaa / Sirviö |
| 2 | 2002–03 | 19 January 2003 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Välimaa / Pienimäki-Hietamäki / Varis |
| 3 | 2003–04 | 11 January 2004 | Otepää, Estonia | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Välimaa / Sarasoja / Kuitunen |
| 4 | 2003–04 | 22 February 2004 | Umeå, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Salonen / Sarasoja / Venäläinen |
| 5 | 2004–05 | 21 November 2004 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Välimaa / Kuitunen / Roponen |
| 6 | 2004–05 | 15 December 2004 | Asiago, Italy | 6 × 1.2 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd | Kuitunen |
| 7 | 2004–05 | 23 January 2005 | Pragelato, Italy | 6 × 1.2 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd | Manninen |
| 8 | 2004–05 | 20 March 2005 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Välimaa / Roponen / Kuitunen |
| 9 | 2005–06 | 20 November 2005 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Välimaa / Roponen / Kuitunen |
| 10 | 2006–07 | 29 October 2006 | Düsseldorf, Germany | 6 × 0.8 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd | Kuitunen |
| 11 | 2006–07 | 19 November 2006 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Välimaa / Kuitunen / Roponen |
| 12 | 2006–07 | 4 February 2007 | Davos, Switzerland | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Manninen / Venäläinen / Roponen |
| 13 | 2006–07 | 25 March 2007 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Kuitunen / Roponen / Muranen |
| 14 | 2007–08 | 25 November 2007 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Sarasoja / Roponen / Muranen |
| 15 | 2007–08 | 17 February 2008 | Liberec, Czech Republic | 4 × 1.4 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd | Muranen |
| 16 | 2007–08 | 24 February 2008 | Falun, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Kuitunen / Roponen / Sarasoja |
| 17 | 2008–09 | 23 November 2008 | Gällivare, Sweden | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Muranen / Kuitunen / Roponen |
| 18 | 2008–09 | 7 December 2008 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 1st | Muranen / Kuitunen / Roponen |
| 19 | 2009–10 | 22 November 2009 | Beitostølen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Muranen / Kuitunen / Roponen |
| 20 | 2011–12 | 20 November 2011 | Sjusjøen, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Lähteenmäki / Roponen / Sarasoja-Lilja |
| 21 | 2011–12 | 12 February 2012 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Sarasoja-Lilja / Roponen / Lähteenmäki |
| 22 | 2012–13 | 20 January 2013 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Kyllönen / Roponen / Niskanen |
| 23 | 2013–14 | 8 December 2013 | Lillehammer, Norway | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Kyllönen / Niskanen / Lähteenmäki |
| 24 | 2013–14 | 22 December 2013 | Asiago, Italy | 6 × 1.25 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 1st | Kyllönen |
| 25 | 2013–14 | 12 January 2014 | Nové Město, Czech Republic | 6 × 1.3 km Team Sprint C | World Cup | 2nd | Malvalehto |
| 26 | 2016–17 | 18 December 2016 | La Clusaz, France | 4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Kyllönen / Roponen / Mononen |