NEWS
![](https://www.eurolympic.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/image1-3.jpg)
ESTONIA – TWO-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST TOOMAS TÕNISTE APPOINTED FINANCE MINISTER
16 June 2017
On 12 June, two-time Olympic medallist Toomas Tõniste was appointed Finance Minister of the Republic of Estonia.
Toomas Tõniste is a former 470-class (double-handed mono-hull) dinghy sailor who won the silver medal in the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and bronze at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
Tõniste was born in Tallinn on 26 April 1967 and is a graduate of Tallinn University. Following his sailing career, he became a successful entrepreneur and later went into politics. He was a member of Tallinn City Council in 2002-2003 and 2006-2007. In 2007-2015, Tõniste was member of the Parliament of Estonia, also serving as Chair of the parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union.
Toomas Tõniste was awarded the Order of the Estonian Red Cross by the President of Estonia in 2001.