HELSINKI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Renowned Finnish ski jumper Matti Nykanen died on Monday at the age of 55.

Nykanen won several Olympic gold medals, first in Sarajevo in 1984 and three in Calgary in 1988. Additionally Nykanen won six world championships in ski jumping.

The death of Nykanen was reported by several Finnish media agencies and confirmed by his family to national broadcaster, Yle.

Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport Sampo Terho praised Nykanen as a great sports hero.

After he retired from skiing, Nykanen became an entertainer and published music albums.

Nykanen married six times, with five persons. He had three children, newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported.

He had a alcohol problems. In 2009 Nykanen was sentenced to prison for aggravated assault.