The international ski jumping family mourns the loss of Jouko "Jokkeri" Toermaenen, who passed away in the night from Friday to Saturday in Central Hospital in Rovaniemi (FIN) at age 60.

Jouko Toermaenen won Olympic Gold on the large hill in Lake Placid 1980 and was chairman of the Ski Jumping Committee in the International Ski Federation (FIS) for many years.

"Jouko Toermaenen was a ski jumping legend in Finland. We are all deeply shocked by the news of his death. Everyone in Finnish winter sports will miss him. After his years as an athlete he was active in the Finnish Ski Association and the International Ski Federation. We would like to offer our deepest sympathy to his family", said Jukka-Pekka Vuori, president of the Finnish Ski Association.

FIS Race Director Walter Hofer also mourns the death of a long-time colleague. "He was an excellent leader of the international ski jumping family and responsible for the development over the last ten years. Last but not least he was a real friend."