Veikko Hakulinen
Encyclopedia
Veikko Johannes Hakulinen (4 January 1925 – 24 October 2003) was a Finnish
forestry
technician and cross country skier, triple champion in both the olympics
and world championship
competition in cross country skiing. Besides his main forte, he also competed in biathlon
, orienteering, ski-orienteering, cross country running and rowing at a national level and continued in senior competition.
), Viipuri Province
and died in Valkeakoski
after a traffic accident.
Sports teams Hakulinen has represented in his career include Asikkalan Raikas, Valkeakosken Haka, Jämsänkosken Ilves, Evon Metsäpojat, Tampereen Hiihtoseura, Tampereen Pyrintö and Tampereen Maila.
In the 1952 Winter Olympics
, Hakulinen won the 50 km gold with the legendary and memorable time of 3:33.33. Finland also won gold in the 4 x 10 km relay, ahead of Norway
, but Hakulinen was not on the team (which had Heikki Hasu
, Paavo Lonkila
, Urpo Korhonen
, and Tapio Mäkelä
). Hakulinen was however on Finland's winning relay team in the 1960 Winter Olympics
, and won the 30 km gold in the 1956 Winter Olympics
. His fourth Olympics were the 1964 Winter Olympics
, where he competed as a biathloner.
In Finland
, Hakulinen was chosen sports personality of the year in the years 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1960. He was decorated with the Pro Urheilu letter of recognition 2000.
Hakulinen also won the 50 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival
twice (1953 and 1955), the 18 km (1953) and the 15 km (1957). For his efforts in cross-country skiing, Hakulinen was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
in 1955 (shared with King Haakon VII, Hallgeir Brenden
, and Sverre Stenersen
).
Hakulinen's military
rank was sergeant
. He died in Tampere
in a car accident on 24 October 2003.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
technician and cross country skier, triple champion in both the olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and world championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
competition in cross country skiing. Besides his main forte, he also competed in biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
, orienteering, ski-orienteering, cross country running and rowing at a national level and continued in senior competition.
Biography
Hakulinen was born in Kurkijoki (now part of the Republic of KareliaRepublic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is located in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas...
), Viipuri Province
Viipuri Province
The Viipuri Province was a province of independent Finland from 1917 to 1947 but had already been founded in 1743.-History:The province was established in 1743 by separating the city of Viipuri and territories ceded from the Swedish Empire to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad in 1721, from the Saint...
and died in Valkeakoski
Valkeakoski
Valkeakoski is a town and municipality in Finland.Valkeakoski is located south of Tampere and north of Helsinki in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Pirkanmaa region. The municipality has a population of...
after a traffic accident.
Sports teams Hakulinen has represented in his career include Asikkalan Raikas, Valkeakosken Haka, Jämsänkosken Ilves, Evon Metsäpojat, Tampereen Hiihtoseura, Tampereen Pyrintö and Tampereen Maila.
In the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
, Hakulinen won the 50 km gold with the legendary and memorable time of 3:33.33. Finland also won gold in the 4 x 10 km relay, ahead of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, but Hakulinen was not on the team (which had Heikki Hasu
Heikki Hasu
Heikki Vihtori Hasu is a Finnish Nordic skier who competed in the late 1940s and early 1950s who was born in Sippola....
, Paavo Lonkila
Paavo Lonkila
Paavo Olavi Lonkila was a Finnish farmer and cross-country skier who competed in the 1940s and 1950s.He was born in Kiuruvesi.He won the 4 x 10 km gold and the 18 km bronze at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo....
, Urpo Korhonen
Urpo Korhonen
Urpo Pentti Korhonen was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1940's and 1950's.He was born in Rautalampi.He won a gold medal at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo in the 4 x 10km relay....
, and Tapio Mäkelä
Tapio Mäkelä
Tapio Valfrid Mäkelä is a former Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1950s.He was born in Nastola.He won the 4 x 10 km gold and the 18 km silver at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo....
). Hakulinen was however on Finland's winning relay team in the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
, and won the 30 km gold in the 1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
. His fourth Olympics were the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
, where he competed as a biathloner.
In Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Hakulinen was chosen sports personality of the year in the years 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1960. He was decorated with the Pro Urheilu letter of recognition 2000.
Hakulinen also won the 50 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
twice (1953 and 1955), the 18 km (1953) and the 15 km (1957). For his efforts in cross-country skiing, Hakulinen was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
in 1955 (shared with King Haakon VII, Hallgeir Brenden
Hallgeir Brenden
Hallgeir Brenden was a former Norwegian cross-country skier from Tørberget in Trysil.He won Olympic gold medals in the 18 km event at the 1952 Winter Olympics and in the 15 km event at the 1956 Winter Olympics, and an Olympic silver medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1952 Winter...
, and Sverre Stenersen
Sverre Stenersen
Sverre Stenersen was a Norwegian Nordic combined skier who dominated the event throughout the 1950s. His biggest triumphs were winning individual golds both at the 1956 Winter Olympics and the 1954 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships...
).
Hakulinen's military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
rank was sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. He died in Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
in a car accident on 24 October 2003.
World Championships
- Falun 1954 - 2 gold (15 km, relay) and 2 silver (30 km and 50 km)
- Lahti 1958 - gold (15 km), silver (50 km) and bronze (relay)
National level competition
National championships 4 in years inclusive 1954-1963 National championships in the 4 x 10 km team relay event 5 times in within 1954-1964.Biathlon
- World championships, Seefeld 1963 - silver (team competition), sixth (20 km)
- Olympics, Innsbruck 1964 - 15th (20 km)
- World championships, Elverum 1965 - fifth (team competition), 31st (20 km)
External links
- Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file
- Holmenkollen winners since 1892 - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file