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Biography
Short · ~65 words
Esa-Pekka Mattila (b. 7 March 1989) is a Finnish T54 wheelchair racer over 100 m. A three-time Paralympian, he raced in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and took European bronze in 2021. He has been in the world's top eight since 2023, with three consecutive world championship finals and a best of 14.08. He chairs the Athletes' Commission of the Finnish Olympic Committee.
Long · ~155 words
Esa-Pekka Mattila (b. 7 March 1989) is a Finnish T54 wheelchair racer over 100 m, racing internationally since 2005. A three-time Paralympian, he raced in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and took European bronze over 100 m at Bydgoszcz in 2021. He has been in the world's top eight since 2023, placing eighth at the 2023 World Championships in Paris (14.57), fifth at Kobe in 2024 (14.33) and seventh at New Delhi in 2025 (14.15). His 100 m best is 14.08. He trains under Leo-Pekka Tähti and races for Espoon Tapiot.
Away from the track he chairs the Athletes' Commission of the Finnish Olympic Committee and sits on its board. He holds board seats at Finnish Athletics and Athletes of Finland, and is vice chair of the Abilis Foundation. He is completing a master's in business law at the Aalto University School of Business and does advisory work in wheelchair and assistive technology. Based in Espoo.
Fact sheet
- Born
- 7 March 1989
- Class
- T54
- Event
- 100 m
- Personal best
- 14.08
- Club
- Espoon Tapiot
- Coach
- Leo-Pekka Tähti
- Based
- Espoo, Finland
- Languages
- Finnish · English · German (B1) · Swedish (elementary)
What the class T54 means: T54 (Track 54) is the para athletics class for wheelchair racers with full muscle power in the arms and some to full muscle power in the trunk. Some athletes also have a degree of leg function. Racing chairs are propelled by striking the pushrims by hand with either soft- or hard-gloves. Over 100 m the event is a pure sprint, accelerating all the way to the finish line unlike in running. T54 is the most populated wheelchair racing class. Distances 1500 m and longer are raced with the class T53. Class definitions are set by World Para Athletics.
Results
| Year | Event | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | World Championships, New Delhi | 7th | 14.15 |
| 2024 | World Championships, Kobe | 5th | 14.33 |
| 2023 | World Championships, Paris | 8th | 14.57 |
| 2021 | European Championships, Bydgoszcz | Bronze | 14.39 |
| 2020 | Paralympic Games, Tokyo | Semifinal, 15th overall | 14.71 |
| 2017 | World Championships, London | Semifinal, 9th overall | 15.09 |
| 2016 | Paralympic Games, Rio | Semifinal, 11th overall | 15.07 |
| 2016 | European Championships, Grosseto | 8th | 16.30 |
| 2015 | World Championships, Doha | Semifinal, 11th overall | 14.87 |
| 2014 | European Championships, Swansea | 5th | 15.43 |
| 2013 | World Championships, Lyon | Semifinal, 9th overall | 14.71 |
| 2012 | Paralympic Games, London | Semifinal, 15th overall | 14.99 |
| 2012 | European Championships, Stadskanaal | 4th | 15.21 |
| 2011 | World Championships, Christchurch | Semifinal, 15th overall | 15.53 |
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esa-pekka-mattila-01-portrait.jpg
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