Janne Ahonen is often considered as one of the most successful athletes in the history of ski jumping. At nine World Championships, nine World Ski-Flying Championships and five Winter Olympics, Ahonen won a total of 19 medals, equaling the medal count of Matti Nykänen. Despite his success, Ahonen struggled at the Olympic arena by never winning an individual Olympic medal, placing fourth three times (in 1998, 2002 and 2010 in normal hill), winning only two team silvers (2002 and 2006).

At the World Championships, Ahonen was more successful, winning five titles (1997 in normal hill, 2005 in large hill and in 1995, 1997 and 2003 in team large hill), three silvers (in 2001 and 2005 in team large hill and in 2001 in team normal hill) and two bronzes (in 2001 in large hill and in 2005 in normal hill). Ahonen has also been successful at the World Ski-Flying Championships; although he never did win the title, he won five silvers (individual in 1996 and 2004 and team in 2004, 2006 and 2008) and two bronzes (individual in 2000 and 2008).

During his career, Ahonen won 36 World Cup events and won two overall World Cups in the 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons. He is the all-time leader in World Cup points, podiums (108) and top 10 appearances (245). He has also a record-breaking five victories in the Four Hills Tournament (1998-99, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2007-08), while finishing second three times and third two times. Ahonen won 22 Finnish titles. He carried the Finnish flag at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Opening Ceremony, was named the Finnish Athlete of the Year in 2005 and was awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 2011.