Evert Jakobsson

Evert Brynolf Jakobsson (16 February 1886 – 16 July 1960) was a Finnish javelin thrower who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Evert Jakobsson

Evert Jakobsson in Stockholm in September 1906, using his enhanced javelin
Personal information
Full name	Evert Brynolf Jakobsson
National team	Finland
Born	(1886-02-16)February 16, 1886 Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died	July 16, 1960(1960-07-16) (aged 74) Helsinki, Finland
Occupation	Varatuomari, insurance manager, chief executive officer
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	74 kg (163 lb)
Spouse(s)	Elsa Savander
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Javelin throw
Club	Helsingin Reipas

Athletics

Evert Jakobsson with his brother Jarl emerged as javelin specialists in the summer of 1906. Their success was based on an alteration on the grip of the javelin. They had stapled two bits of stiff cord on it, improving its support for fingers. The existing world record by Eric Lemming was 53.90 metres, but with their enhancement, Evert broke it with 57.42 metres. He travelled to Stockholm in September 1906 to challenge Lemming. Although Lemming was victorious, he duplicated their grip and took back the record with 58.37 metres. At this point, the new grip was banned and all results achieved with it were disqualified, reverting the world record to 53.90.[1]

With the Jakobssons' grip, Evert had thrown a two-handed sum of 98.47 meters in 1906. The next summer, he threw significantly less in his only known participation at the Finnish Championships in Athletics:

Evert Jakobsson at the Finnish Championships in Athletics

Year	Event	Rank	Result	References
1907	Two handed javelin throw	4th	79.74 m	[2]

He entered three events at the Olympic Games:

Evert Jakobsson at the Olympic Games

Games	Event	Rank	Result	Notes
1908	Javelin throw	8–16	unknown	Source:.[3] His result wasn't officially recorded, but a newspaper correspondent reported that his throws were less than 40 metres.[4]
	Freestyle javelin throw	10–33	unknown	Source:[5]
	Shot put	Did not start		Source:[6]

Family

His parents were father Gustaf Jakobsson and mother Josefina Torck. He married Elsa Savander in 1916.[7] His brother Jarl Jakobsson was another Finnish 1908 Olympian. Figure skater Walter Jakobsson, who won Olympic gold in 1920 pair skating, was his cousin. Film director Jack Witikka was his son.[8]

References

1. Jukola, Martti (1956). Huippu-urheilun historia (in Finnish) (3rd supplemented ed.). Helsinki: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. pp. 333–334.
2. Hannus, Matti; Laitinen, Esa; Martiskainen, Seppo (2002). Kalevan kisat, Kalevan malja — vuosisata yleisurheilun Suomen mestaruuksia (in Finnish). Lahti: Suomen urheiluliiton julkaisut. p. 244. ISBN 951-96491-5-8.
3. Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian (2001). The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
4. Tahko (25 July 1908). "Olympialaiset kisat". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Helsinki. p. 3. ISSN 0355-2047. Retrieved 28 July 2017 – via Digi — National Library's Digital Collections.
5. Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian (2001). The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
6. Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian (2001). The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland. p. 112, endnote 242. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
7. Suomen liikemiehiä. Affärsmän i Finland (in Finnish and Swedish). I. A–L. Helsinki: Suomen kauppa ja teollisuus. 1930. p. 305.
8. Siukonen, Markku (2001). Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000. Suuri olympiateos (in Finnish). Jyväskylä: Graface. p. 90. ISBN 951-98673-1-7.