Finland at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Last updated
Finland at the
1920 Summer Olympics
Flag of Finland.svg
IOC code FIN
NOC Finnish Olympic Committee
Website sport.fi/olympiakomitea  (in Finnish and Swedish)
in Antwerp
Competitors63 (62 men, 1 woman) in 9 sports
Flag bearer Emil Hagelberg
Medals
Ranked 4th
Gold
15
Silver
10
Bronze
9
Total
34
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

Finland competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium for the first time as a fully independent state. It did compete at the previous Olympics, however, only as the Russian-dependent Grand Duchy of Finland. 63 competitors, 62 men and 1 woman, took part in 51 events in 9 sports. [1]

Contents

Medalists

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Aquatics

Diving

Three divers, all men, represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport. Valkama was the only diver to advance to a final, placing fifth in the plain high diving. This result matched Finland's best diving result to date.

Men

Ranks given are within the semifinal group.

DiverEventSemifinalsFinal
PointsScoreRankPointsScoreRank
Kalle Kainuvaara 10 m platform 35356.807Did not advance
Plain high dive 15160.04Did not advance
Lauri Kyöstilä 10 m platform 21441.804Did not advance
Yrjö Valkama Plain high dive 14157.03 Q23167.55

Swimming

A single swimmer represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport as well as the Olympics. Aaltonen won bronze medals in both of his breaststroke events. They were Finland's first Olympic swimming medals; Aaltonen had been the first Finn to advance to a swimming event final.

Ranks given are within the heat.

Men
SwimmerEventQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRank
Arvo Aaltonen 200 m breast 3:11.62 Q3:12.42 Q3:12.2Bronze medal icon.svg
400 m breast 6:50.02 Q6:45.01 Q6:48.0Bronze medal icon.svg

Athletics

26 athletes represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in athletics, a sport in which Finland had competed each time the country appeared at the Olympics. The Finnish team garnered nine gold medals, matching the United States for the most in that category. With only about a quarter of the number of athletes, however, the Finns could not match the depth of the United States and finished with 13 fewer total medals.

The Finland team's greatest successes came in long distance running events (gold medals in the 10,000 metres, marathon, individual cross country, and team cross country) and throwing events (golds in the discus throw, shot put, and javelin throw—sweeping the medals in the latter). They also took the championships in the triple jump and the pentathlon.

Ranks given are within the heat.

AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
ResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank
Hannes Kolehmainen Marathon N/A2:32:35.8Gold medal icon.svg
Tatu Kolehmainen Marathon N/A2:44:02.310
Teodor Koskenniemi 5000 m N/A15:22.03 Q15:17.04
Cross country N/A27:57.26
Heikki Liimatainen 10000 m N/A32:08.21 Q32:28.07
Cross country N/A27:37.0Bronze medal icon.svg
Hannes Miettinen Cross country N/AUnknown23
Paavo Nurmi 5000 m N/A15:33.02 Q15:00.0Silver medal icon.svg
10000 m N/A33:46.32 Q31:45.8Gold medal icon.svg
Cross country N/A27:15.0Gold medal icon.svg
Eino Rastas Cross country N/AUnknown18
Oskari Rissanen 3000 m steeplechase N/A11:07.53 QDid not start
Urho Tallgren Marathon N/A2:42:40.09
Juho Tuomikoski Marathon N/A2:40:18.85
Ilmari Vesamaa 5000 m N/A15:54.44Did not advance
3000 m steeplechase N/A10:32.24Did not advance
Cross country N/AUnknown14
Valdemar Wickholm 400 m hurdles N/A57.93Did not advance
Erik Wilén 400 m 52.02 Q51.04Did not advance
400 m hurdles N/A58.42 QUnknown5Did not advance
Teodor Koskenniemi
Heikki Liimatainen
Paavo Nurmi
Cross country N/A10Gold medal icon.svg
AthleteEventQualifyingFinal
ResultRankResultRank
Pekka Johansson Javelin throw 63.0952 Q63.095Bronze medal icon.svg
Hugo Lahtinen Long jump 6.1919Did not advance
Eero Lehtonen Long jump 6.28516Did not advance
Jonni Myyrä Discus throw 37.0012Did not advance
Javelin throw 60.633 Q65.78 ORGold medal icon.svg
Elmer Niklander Shot put 14.1551 Q14.155Silver medal icon.svg
Discus throw 44.6851 Q44.685Gold medal icon.svg
56 lb weight throw 8.8658Did not advance
Ossian Nylund Triple jump 13.747Did not advance
Urho Peltonen Javelin throw 63.605 OR1 Q63.605Silver medal icon.svg
Johan Pettersson Hammer throw 41.7611Did not advance
56 lb weight throw 9.3756 Q9.3756
Ville Pörhölä Shot put 14.0353 Q14.81Gold medal icon.svg
Discus throw 38.198Did not advance
56 lb weight throw 8.859Did not advance
Jussi Ruoho Pole vault 3.601 Q3.4012
Julius Saaristo Javelin throw 60.0455 Q62.3954
Armas Taipale Shot put 12.94510Did not advance
Discus throw 44.192 Q44.19Silver medal icon.svg
Vilho Tuulos Triple jump 14.5051 Q14.505Gold medal icon.svg
AthleteEventFinal
TotalRank
Pekka Johansson Decathlon Did not finish
Hugo Lahtinen Pentathlon 26Bronze medal icon.svg
Decathlon Did not finish
Eero Lehtonen Pentathlon 14Gold medal icon.svg
Decathlon Did not finish
Jonni Myyrä Pentathlon Did not finish
Ossian Nylund Pentathlon Did not finish
Valdemar Wickholm Decathlon 6405.4606

Equestrian

A single equestrian represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Wilkman competed in the eventing competition, placing 17th.

EquestrianHorseEventFinal
ResultRank
Oskar Wilkman Meno Eventing 1282.5017

Modern pentathlon

Two pentathletes represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport.

A point-for-place system was used, with the lowest total score winning.

PentathleteFinal
RidingFencingShootingSwimmingRunningTotalRank
Emil Alfons Hagelberg 1032198517
Kalle Kainuvaara Did not finish

Skating

Figure skating

Three figure skaters represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. The Jakobssons, a married couple, won the pairs competition. Ilmanen placed fifth of nine in the men's singles.

SkaterEventFinal
ResultRank
Sakari Ilmanen Men's singles 30.05
Ludowika Jakobsson
Walter Jakobsson
Pairs 7.0Gold medal icon.svg

Shooting

Nine shooters represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport as well as the Olympics. The Finns were looking to improve upon the pair of bronze medals they had won in 1912, which was the country's best result to date. They were successful, taking a silver medal in the team running deer single shots competition as well as another pair of bronzes in other team competitions.

ShooterEventFinal
ResultRank
Voitto Kolho 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 9747
Yrjö Kolho 100 m deer, single shots 404
Kalle Lappalainen 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 945Unknown
Veli Nieminen 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 934Unknown
Trap Unknown
Toivo Tikkanen 100 m deer, single shots 405
Vilho Vauhkonen 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 966Unknown
300 m military rifle, prone 594
Magnus Wegelius 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 849Unknown
300 m military rifle, standing 51Unknown
600 m military rifle, prone 51Unknown
Voitto Kolho
Yrjö Kolho
Frans Nässling
Toivo Tikkanen
Nestor Toivonen
50 m team free pistol 205211
Voitto Kolho
Kalle Lappalainen
Veli Nieminen
Vilho Vauhkonen
Magnus Wegelius
Team free rifle 46684
300 m team military rifle, prone 281Bronze medal icon.svg
600 m team military rifle, prone 2688
300 & 600 m team military rifle, prone 52410
Voitto Kolho
Kalle Lappalainen
Nestor Toivonen
Vilho Vauhkonen
Magnus Wegelius
300 m team military rifle, standing 2357
Yrjö Kolho
Kalle Lappalainen
Toivo Tikkanen
Nestor Toivonen
Magnus Wegelius
100 m team deer, single shots 159Silver medal icon.svg
Yrjö Kolho
Toivo Tikkanen
Nestor Toivonen
Vilho Vauhkonen
Magnus Wegelius
100 m team deer, double shots 285Bronze medal icon.svg

Weightlifting

A single weightlifter represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Ekström competed in the light heavyweight category, but did not finish the competition.

WeightlifterEventFinal
ResultRank
Rudolf Ekström 82.5 kg Did not finish

Wrestling

Eighteen wrestlers competed for Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport as well as the Olympics. The Finland team was the most successful of any country, taking fully half of the gold medals as well as twice as many total medals as any other country. Twelve of the eighteen wrestlers won medals.

Nine of the ten Greco-Roman wrestlers won medals, including three gold medals. The Finns swept the top two places in two of the five events, won two medals in two other events, and took one medal in the fifth. The Finnish wrestlers won 84% of their matches, a percentage that rises to 89% when matches between two men from Finland are excluded.

The eight freestyle wrestlers were also successful, taking two of a possible five gold medals, but not to the extent of the Greco-Roman wrestlers. Only three of the eight took medals, and the winning percentage was a less-staggering though still respectable 70%.

Freestyle

WrestlerEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals / Bronze matchRank
Kalle Anttila Lightweight N/AFlag of France.svg  Deligny  (FRA) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Shimmon  (USA) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Thys  (BEL) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Svensson  (SWE) (W)Gold medal icon.svg
Johan Gallén Light heavyweight N/AFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Roosen  (BEL) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Larsson  (SWE) (L)Did not advance5
Eino Leino Middleweight ByeFlag of Switzerland.svg  Bron  (SUI) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Janssens  (BEL) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Johnson  (USA) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Penttala  (FIN) (W)Gold medal icon.svg
Kaarlo Mäkinen Featherweight N/AUS flag 48 stars.svg  Gerson  (USA) (L)Did not advance9
Sven Mattsson Heavyweight N/AUS flag 48 stars.svg  Pendleton  (USA) (L)Did not advance5
Väinö Penttala Middleweight Flag of France.svg  Backsman  (FRA) (W)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Bacon  (GBR) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Derkinderen  (BEL) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Frantz  (USA) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Leino  (FIN) (L)Silver medal icon.svg
Jussi Salila Heavyweight N/AFlag of Switzerland.svg  Roth  (SUI) (L)Did not advance5
Emil Westerlund Light heavyweight N/AFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Rhys  (GBR) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Maurer  (USA) (L)Did not advance5

Greco-Roman

WrestlerEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalsRank
Silver quartersSilver semisSilver match
Bronze quartersBronze semisBronze match
Oskari Friman Featherweight ByeUS flag 48 stars.svg  Gallery  (USA) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Svensson  (SWE) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Boumans  (BEL) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Kähkönen  (FIN) (W)Gold medal icon.svg
N/AWon gold
Won gold
Heikki Kähkönen Featherweight ByeUS flag 48 stars.svg  Brian  (USA) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Torgensen  (DEN) (W)Flag of Estonia.svg  Pütsep  (EST) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Friman  (FIN) (L)Silver medal icon.svg
N/AFlag of Sweden.svg  Svensson  (SWE) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Boumans  (BEL) (W)
Won silver
Adolf Lindfors Heavyweight Flag of France.svg  Gasiglia  (FRA) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Willkie  (USA) (W)Flag of France.svg  Dame  (FRA) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Hansen  (DEN) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Ahlgren  (SWE) (W)Gold medal icon.svg
Won gold
Won gold
Arthur Lindfors Middleweight Flag of Denmark.svg  Christensen  (DEN) (W)Flag of Norway.svg  Johnsen  (NOR) (W)Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Balej  (TCH) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Szymanski  (USA) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Westergren  (SWE) (L)Silver medal icon.svg
ByeFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Eillebrecht  (NED) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Perttilä  (FIN) (W)
Won silver
Martin Nieminen Heavyweight ByeFlag of Denmark.svg  Larsen  (DEN) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Hansen  (DEN) (L)Did not advanceBronze medal icon.svg
Did not advance
ByeUS flag 48 stars.svg  Willkie  (USA) (W)US flag 48 stars.svg  Weyand  (USA) (W)
Matti Perttilä Middleweight Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Cornelis  (BEL) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Nielsen  (DEN) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Fältström  (SWE) (W)Flag of Sweden.svg  Westergren  (SWE) (L)Did not advanceBronze medal icon.svg
ByeFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Vanderleenden  (BEL) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Lindfors  (FIN) (L)
ByeFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Eillebrecht  (NED) (W)Flag of Norway.svg  Johnsen  (NOR) (W)
Anders Rajala Light heavyweight ByeFlag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Tázler  (TCH) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Wahlem  (BEL) (L)Did not advance7
N/ADid not advance
N/A
Edil Rosenqvist Light heavyweight ByeFlag of Sweden.svg  Johansson  (SWE) (L)Did not advanceSilver medal icon.svg
N/AFlag of Denmark.svg  Tetens  (DEN) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Eriksen  (DEN) (W)
N/A
Taavi Tamminen Lightweight ByeFlag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Kopřiva  (TCH) (W)Flag of Norway.svg  Frydenlund  (NOR) (W)Flag of Norway.svg  Andersen  (NOR) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Väre  (FIN) (W)Silver medal icon.svg
ByeFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Janssens  (BEL) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Frisenfeldt  (DEN) (W)
Won silver
Emil Väre Lightweight Flag of Denmark.svg  Christiansen  (DEN) (W)Flag of France.svg  Rohon  (FRA) (W)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Janssens  (BEL) (W)Flag of Denmark.svg  Frisenfeldt  (DEN) (W)Flag of Finland.svg  Tamminen  (FIN) (W)Gold medal icon.svg
Won gold
Won gold

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References

  1. "Finland at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2012-06-23.