List of Famous people born in Finland Proper, Finland
Aimo Koivunen
Aimo Allan Koivunen was a Finnish soldier in World War II and the first documented case of a soldier overdosing on methamphetamine during combat.
Liisi Oterma
Liisi Oterma was a Finnish astronomer, the first woman to get a Ph.D. degree in astronomy in Finland.
Kaapo Kakko
Kaapo Kakko is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kakko was selected second overall by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Kakko plays right wing, but also has experience playing at center. He made his professional debut playing with TPS of the Finnish Liiga.
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner. He was called the "Flying Finn" or the "Phantom Finn", as he dominated distance running in the early 20th century. Nurmi set 22 official world records at distances between 1500 metres and 20 kilometres, and won nine gold and three silver medals in his twelve events in the Summer Olympic Games. At his peak, Nurmi was undefeated for 121 races at distances from 800 m upwards. Throughout his 14-year career, he remained unbeaten in cross country events and the 10,000 m.
Sauli Niinistö
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö is a Finnish politician serving as the 12th and current president of Finland since 2012.
Jarkko Nieminen
Jarkko Kalervo Nieminen is a Finnish former professional tennis player. His highest ranking of world No. 13, achieved in July 2006, is a Finnish record. He has won two ATP singles titles and five doubles titles in his career. His best performances in Grand Slam tournaments have been reaching the quarterfinals of the 2005 US Open, the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2008 Australian Open.
Artturi Lehkonen
Artturi Lehkonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Lehkonen was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2nd round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Li Andersson
Li Sigrid Andersson is a Finnish politician. She is the leader of the Left Alliance, Member of the Finnish Parliament, city councilor of Turku and former chair of her party's youth organization. In June 2019, she was appointed Minister of Education in the Rinne Cabinet. After the collapse of the cabinet in December 2019, Andersson continued in the same position in the following Marin Cabinet.
Teemu Packalén
Teemu Packalén is a Finnish mixed martial artist. He was the Amateur Champion of Finland and the Finnish Open Championship winner in 2010. Packalén competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Tom of Finland
Touko Valio Laaksonen, best known by his pseudonym Tom of Finland, was a Finnish artist known for his stylized highly masculinized homoerotic art, and for his influence on late twentieth century gay culture. He has been called the "most influential creator of gay pornographic images" by cultural historian Joseph W. Slade. Over the course of four decades, he produced some 3,500 illustrations, mostly featuring men with exaggerated primary and secondary sex traits, wearing tight or partially removed clothing.