He is Finland’s fallen star: a national hero who was once the world’s greatest ski jumper but whose glory days have been overshadowed by drunkenness, violent outbursts and forays into pop music.
Yesterday the tumultuous personal life of Matti Nykanen returned to the headlines as Finnish police confirmed they were investigating allegations he had assaulted his wife on Christmas Day.
The 46-year-old, whose retirement has been punctuated with reports of alcohol-fuelled violence, was arrested on Friday after his fourth wife, Mervi Tapola, was taken to hospital with minor head and hand injuries.
Nykanen is suspected of trying to stab Tapola and strangle her with a bathrobe belt at their home in the town of Ylojarvi, police said. Ms Tapola was discharged from hospital on the day of the alleged attack.
– (Guardian service)