Mauno Uusivirta

During his lengthy career Finnish cyclist Mauno Uusivirta became a national champion and competed at three Olympic Games. After finishing third in the team time trial at the Nordic Championships in 1967, Uusivirta made his first appearance at the Olympics the following year. At the Mexico City Games he placed 46th in the road race, in addition to finishing 19th in the team time trial. His breakout year came in 1970 when he became the national road race champion and won the Porvoon ajot one-day race, the oldest cycling race in Finland.

In 1971 Uusivirta had success on the track, winning the team pursuit title at the Finnish championships. One year later he returned to the Olympics, again riding in the road race and team time trial at the München Games. During the 1970s Uusivirta rode in six editions of the Peace Race, in addition to winning the road race title at the 1975 Nordic Championships. After missing the 1976 Olympics he returned to the Games one last time in 1980, where he placed 38th in the road race in Moskva. Uusivirta ended his competitive career shortly after the 1980 Olympics with him becoming a coach and volunteer with the Turku Cycling Association. Outside of cycling he also worked as a firefighter.