Antti Kasvio

Antti Kasvio was born into a sporting family, as both his father [Matti] and mother [Ulla] represented Finland in swimming at the Olympics. Kasvio rose to prominence at the 1990 European Junior Championships, where he won both the 100 and 200 metre freestyle events. At the 1992 Olympics Kasvio became the second Finnish swimmer, after [Arvo Aaltonen] in 1920, to win an Olympic medal, by capturing a surprise bronze in the 200 free behind [Yevgeny Sadovy] and [Anders Holmertz]. He also won the B-final in the 400 free. At the 1993 European Championships Kasvio won both the 200 and 400 metre freestyle titles and, at the 1994 World Championships, he won a gold in the 200 freestyle and silver in the 400 freestyle. Kasvio last medaled at a major international championship in 1995, when he won bronze in the 200 free at the European Championships. Kasvio competed at the 1996 Olympics and retired from swimming in 1999. Domestically Kasvio won 47 individual Finnish titles and 36 relay titles between 1988 and 1998, played water polo at the Finnish Championships and belonged to the Finnish national water polo team in 1999.

Personal Best: 100 m freestyle – 51.26 (1994); 200 m freestyle – 1:47.11 (1993); 400 m freestyle – 3:47.81 (1993); 800 m freestyle – 8:10.57 (1993); 1,500 m freestyle – 15:24.69 (1993)