Finland at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Finland competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 129 competitors, 123 men and 6 women, took part in 84 events in 16 sports.[1] As the country hosted the next Olympics in Helsinki, a Finnish segment was performed at the closing ceremony.

Finland at the
1948 Summer Olympics
IOC codeFIN
NOCFinnish Olympic Committee
Websitesport.fi/olympiakomitea (in Finnish and Swedish)
in London
Competitors129 (123 men, 6 women) in 16 sports
Flag bearerHannes Sonck
Medals
Ranked 6th
Gold
8
Silver
7
Bronze
5
Total
20
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event Date
 GoldLennart Viitala Wrestling Men's freestyle flyweight 31 July
 GoldTapio Rautavaara Athletics Men's javelin throw 4 August
 GoldVeikko Huhtanen Gymnastics Men's artistic individual all-around 13 August
 GoldPaavo Aaltonen
Veikko Huhtanen
Kalevi Laitinen
Olavi Rove
Aleksanteri Saarvala
Sulo Salmi
Heikki Savolainen
Einari Teräsvirta		 Gymnastics Men's artistic team all-around 13 August
 GoldPaavo Aaltonen Gymnastics Men's pommel horse 13 August
 GoldVeikko Huhtanen Gymnastics Men's pommel horse 13 August
 GoldHeikki Savolainen Gymnastics Men's pommel horse 13 August
 GoldPaavo Aaltonen Gymnastics Men's vault 13 August
 SilverKaisa Parviainen Athletics Women's javelin throw 31 July
 SilverErkki Kataja Athletics Men's pole vault 2 August
 SilverPauli Janhonen Shooting Men's 300 metre free rifle, three positions 6 August
 SilverKelpo Gröndahl Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman light heavyweight 6 August
 SilverKurt Wires Canoeing Men's K-1 10,000 metres 11 August
 SilverVeikko Huhtanen Gymnastics Men's parallel bars 13 August
 SilverOlavi Rove Gymnastics Men's vault 13 August
 BronzeReino Kangasmäki Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman flyweight 6 August
 BronzeThor Axelsson
Nils Björklöf		 Canoeing Men's K-2 10,000 metres 11 August
 BronzeThor Axelsson
Nils Björklöf		 Canoeing Men's K-2 1000 metres 12 August
 BronzePaavo Aaltonen Gymnastics Men's artistic individual all-around 13 August
 BronzeVeikko Huhtanen Gymnastics Men's horizontal bar 13 August


Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • NH = No height
  • DNF = Did not finish
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Runar Holmberg 400 metres 50.6 5 Did Not Advance
Olavi Talja 50.4 4 Did Not Advance
Tauno Suvanto 51.5 4 Did Not Advance
Denis Johansson 1500 metres 3:54.0[2] 3 — Unknown 12
Väinö Koskela 5000 metres 14:58.3[3] 2 — 14:41.0 7
Väinö Mäkelä 14:45.8 2 — 14:43.0 8
Helge Perälä 15:07.8 4[3] — DNF
Salomon Könönen 10,000 metres — no time 9
Viljo Heino — DNF
Evert Heinström — DNF
Pentti Siltaloppi 3000 metres steeplechase 9:22.4 3[4] — 9:19.6 5
Aarne Kainlauri 9:25.8 2[4] — 9:29.0 10
Tauno Suvanto
Olavi Talja
Runar Holmberg
Berth Storskrubb		 4 × 400 m relay 3:20.6 1 — 3:24.8 4
Viljo Heino marathon — 2:41:32.0 11
Jussi Kurikkala — 2:42:48.0 13
Mikko Hietanen — DNF
Field events
Athlete Event Final
Distance Position
Valle Rautio triple jump 14.700 6
Kuuno Honkonen high jump 1.80 17
Nils Nicklén NH
Erkki Kataja pole vault 4.20 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Valto Olenius 3.95 7
Yrjö Lehtilä shot put 15.05 6
Jaakko Jouppila 14.59 7
Veikko Nyqvist discus throw 47.33 6
Arvo Huutoniemi 45.28 9
Tapio Rautavaara javelin throw 69.77 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Pauli Vesterinen 65.89 4
Soini Nikkinen 58.05 12
Lauri Tamminen hammer throw 53.08 5
Combined events – Decathlon
Athlete Event 100 m LJ SP HJ 400 m 110H DT PV JT 1500 m Final Rank
Yrjö Mäkelä Result[5] 11.9 6.20 13.10 1.8 54.3 17.5 36.12 3.2 62.55 4:58 - 13
Points 618 603 725 786 656 597 600 575 835 426 6,421
Adjusted Points — 6,064
Hannes Sonck Result[5] 11.9 6.715 11.83 1.75 55.2 16.8 34.71 3.4 48.24 5:01.8 - 17
Points 618 728 605 727 618 674 561 652 555 404 6,142
Adjusted Points — 5,883

Boxing
Main article: Boxing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Cycling
Main article: Cycling at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Five cyclists, all men, represented Finland in 1948.

Individual road race
  • Paul Backman
  • Torvald Högström
  • Erkki Koskinen
Team road race
  • Paul Backman
  • Torvald Högström
  • Erkki Koskinen
Time trial
  • Onni Kasslin
Team pursuit
  • Onni Kasslin
  • Paavo Kuusinen
  • Erkki Koskinen
  • Torvald Högström

Equestrian
Main article: Equestrian at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Fencing

Six fencers, all men, represented Finland in 1948.

Men's foil
  • Kauko Jalkanen
  • Heikki Raitio
Men's team foil
  • Kauko Jalkanen, Nils Sjöblom, Erkki Kerttula, Heikki Raitio
Men's épée
  • Nils Sjöblom
  • Erkki Kerttula
  • Ilmari Vartia
Men's team épée
  • Nils Sjöblom, Olavi Larkas, Erkki Kerttula, Ilmari Vartia, Kauko Jalkanen
Men's sabre
  • Erkki Kerttula
  • Nils Sjöblom
  • Kauko Jalkanen

Gymnastics
Main article: Gymnastics at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Modern pentathlon
Main article: Modern pentathlon at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Three male pentathletes represented Finland in 1948.

  • Lauri Vilkko
  • Olavi Larkas
  • Viktor Platan

Rowing

Finland had five male rowers participate in one out of seven rowing events in 1948.[6]

Men's coxed four
  • Veikko Lommi
  • Helge Forsberg
  • Oiva Lommi
  • Osrik Forsberg
  • Veli Autio (cox)

Sailing
Main article: Sailing at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Shooting

Twelve shooters represented Finland in 1948. Pauli Janhonen won a silver medal in the 300 m rifle event.

25 metre pistol
  • Leo Ravilo
  • Väinö Heusala
  • Jaakko Rintanen
50 metre pistol
  • Eino Saarnikko
  • Klaus Lahti
  • Väinö Skarp
300 metre rifle
  • Pauli Janhonen
  • Kullervo Leskinen
  • Olavi Elo
50 metre rifle
  • Albert Ravila
  • Veijo Kaakinen
  • Onni Hynninen

Swimming
Main article: Swimming at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Wrestling
Main article: Wrestling at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Art competitions
Main article: Art competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics

See also
  • Finnish Sauna Bath London 1948

References
  1. "Finland at the 1948 London Summer Games". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. London: THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. 1948. p. 249. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. London: THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. 1948. p. 250. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. London: THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. 1948. p. 257. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. London: THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XIV OLYMPIAD. 1948. p. 274. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  6. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Finland Rowing at the 1948 London Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
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