In 1954 Toini Pöysti (then Mikkola) was the first female Finnish skier to win the 10 km at Holmenkollen. At the 1958 World Championships, Pöysti was seventh at 10 km and won her only World Championships medal as a member of the silver medal winning Finnish relay team. In 1959 Pöysti won the 10K at the Swedish Ski Games in Falun and in 1960, won a bronze in the relay at the Olympic Winter Games, while placing sixth in the 10 km. In 1960 she also recorded her only victory at Lahti, winning the 10 km. The 1962 World Championships were not very successful for Pöysti as she was only ninth in the 10K and was not selected for the relay team, but at the 1964 Winter Olympics Pöysti won her second Olympic bronze in the relay while finishing fifth in both the 5 and 10 km. Pöysti made her last international appearance at the 1966 World Championships where she was ninth at 10 km and place fifth in the relay. Domestically Pöysti won Finnish Championships at 10 km in 1960, won silver over 10 km in 1958 and in the 5 km in 1960 and added a bronze in the 10 km in 1957 and in the 5 km in 1961. She also won the Puijo 10 km four times. Her granddaughter Essi Pöysti was selected as Miss Finland in 2009.
Finland