Finland at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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]

Finland at the
1920 Summer Olympics
IOC codeFIN
NOCFinnish Olympic Committee
Websitesport.fi/olympiakomitea (in Finnish and Swedish)
in Antwerp
Competitors63 (62 men, 1 woman) in 9 sports
Flag bearerEmil Hagelberg
Medals
Ranked 4th
Gold
15
Silver
10
Bronze
9
Total
34
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

Medalists

Gold
  • Athletics
  • Figure skating (on ice)
  • Wrestling
    • Men's freestyle 60–67.5 kg (lightweight): Kalle Anttila
    • Men's freestyle 67.5–75 kg (middleweight): Eino Aukusti Leino
    • Men's Greco-Roman +82 kg (super heavyweight): Adolf Valentin Lindfors
    • Men's Greco-Roman -60 kg (featherweight): Oskar David Friman
    • Men's Greco-Roman 60–67.5 kg (lightweight): Eemil Ernesti Väre

Silver

Bronze
  • Athletics
    • Men's cross country individual: Heikki Liimatainen
    • Men's javelin throw: Paavo Jaale-Johansson
    • Men's pentathlon: Hugo Jalmari Lahtinen
  • Shooting
  • Swimming
    • Men's 200 m breaststroke: Arvo Ossian Aaltonen
    • Men's 400 m breaststroke: Arvo Ossian Aaltonen
  • Wrestling
    • Men's Greco-Roman + 82 kg (super heavyweight): Martti Nieminen
    • Men's Greco-Roman 67.5–75 kg (middleweight): Matti Perttilä

Aquatics

Diving
Main article: Diving at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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.

Diver Event Semifinals Final
Points Score Rank Points Score Rank
Kalle Kainuvaara 10 m platform 35 356.80 7 Did not advance
Plain high dive 15 160.0 4 Did not advance
Lauri Kyöstilä 10 m platform 21 441.80 4 Did not advance
Yrjö Valkama Plain high dive 14 157.0 3 Q 23 167.5 5

Swimming
Main article: Swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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
Swimmer Event Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Arvo Aaltonen 200 m breast 3:11.6 2 Q 3:12.4 2 Q 3:12.2
400 m breast 6:50.0 2 Q 6:45.0 1 Q 6:48.0

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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.

Athlete Event Heats Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Hannes Kolehmainen Marathon N/A 2:32:35.8
Tatu Kolehmainen Marathon N/A 2:44:02.3 10
Teodor Koskenniemi 5000 m N/A 15:22.0 3 Q 15:17.0 4
Cross country N/A 27:57.2 6
Heikki Liimatainen 10000 m N/A 32:08.2 1 Q 32:28.0 7
Cross country N/A 27:37.0
Hannes Miettinen Cross country N/A Unknown 23
Paavo Nurmi 5000 m N/A 15:33.0 2 Q 15:00.0
10000 m N/A 33:46.3 2 Q 31:45.8
Cross country N/A 27:15.0
Eino Rastas Cross country N/A Unknown 18
Oskari Rissanen 3000 m steeplechase N/A 11:07.5 3 Q Did not start
Urho Tallgren Marathon N/A 2:42:40.0 9
Juho Tuomikoski Marathon N/A 2:40:18.8 5
Ilmari Vesamaa 5000 m N/A 15:54.4 4 Did not advance
3000 m steeplechase N/A 10:32.2 4 Did not advance
Cross country N/A Unknown 14
Valdemar Wickholm 400 m hurdles N/A 57.9 3 Did not advance
Erik Wilén 400 m 51.1 2 Q 51.1 4 Did not advance
400 m hurdles N/A 58.4 2 Q Unknown 5 Did not advance
Teodor Koskenniemi
Heikki Liimatainen
Paavo Nurmi		 Cross country N/A 10
Athlete Event Qualifying Final
Result Rank Result Rank
Pekka Johansson Javelin throw 63.095 2 Q 63.095
Hugo Lahtinen Long jump 6.19 19 Did not advance
Eero Lehtonen Long jump 6.285 16 Did not advance
Jonni Myyrä Discus throw 37.00 12 Did not advance
Javelin throw 60.63 3 Q 65.78 OR
Elmer Niklander Shot put 14.155 1 Q 14.155
Discus throw 44.685 1 Q 44.685
56 lb weight throw 8.865 8 Did not advance
Ossian Nylund Triple jump 13.74 7 Did not advance
Urho Peltonen Javelin throw 63.605 OR 1 Q 63.605
Johan Pettersson Hammer throw 41.76 11 Did not advance
56 lb weight throw 9.375 6 Q 9.375 6
Ville Pörhölä Shot put 14.035 3 Q 14.81
Discus throw 38.19 8 Did not advance
56 lb weight throw 8.85 9 Did not advance
Jussi Ruoho Pole vault 3.60 1 Q 3.40 12
Julius Saaristo Javelin throw 60.045 5 Q 62.395 4
Armas Taipale Shot put 12.945 10 Did not advance
Discus throw 44.19 2 Q 44.19
Vilho Tuulos Triple jump 14.505 1 Q 14.505
Athlete Event Final
Total Rank
Pekka Johansson Decathlon Did not finish
Hugo Lahtinen Pentathlon 26
Decathlon Did not finish
Eero Lehtonen Pentathlon 14
Decathlon Did not finish
Jonni Myyrä Pentathlon Did not finish
Ossian Nylund Pentathlon Did not finish
Valdemar Wickholm Decathlon 6405.460 6

Equestrian
Main article: Equestrian at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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

Equestrian Horse Event Final
Result Rank
Oskar Wilkman Meno Eventing 1282.50 17

Modern pentathlon
Main article: Modern pentathlon at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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.

Pentathlete Final
Riding Fencing Shooting Swimming Running Total Rank
Emil Alfons Hagelberg 10 3 21 9 8 51 7
Kalle Kainuvaara Did not finish

Skating

Figure skating
Main article: Figure skating at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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.

Skater Event Final
Result Rank
Sakari Ilmanen Men's singles 30.0 5
Ludowika Jakobsson
Walter Jakobsson		 Pairs 7.0

Shooting
Main article: Shooting at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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.

Shooter Event Final
Result Rank
Voitto Kolho 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 974 7
Yrjö Kolho 100 m deer, single shots 40 4
Kalle Lappalainen 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 945 Unknown
Veli Nieminen 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 934 Unknown
Trap Unknown
Toivo Tikkanen 100 m deer, single shots 40 5
Vilho Vauhkonen 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 966 Unknown
300 m military rifle, prone 59 4
Karl Magnus Wegelius 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. 849 Unknown
300 m military rifle, standing 51 Unknown
600 m military rifle, prone 51 Unknown
Voitto Kolho
Yrjö Kolho
Frans Nässling
Toivo Tikkanen
Nestor Toivonen		 50 m team free pistol 2052 11
Voitto Kolho
Kalle Lappalainen
Veli Nieminen
Vilho Vauhkonen
Karl Magnus Wegelius		 Team free rifle 4668 4
300 m team military rifle, prone 281
600 m team military rifle, prone 268 8
300 & 600 m team military rifle, prone 524 10
Voitto Kolho
Kalle Lappalainen
Nestor Toivonen
Vilho Vauhkonen
Karl Magnus Wegelius		 300 m team military rifle, standing 235 7
Yrjö Kolho
Kalle Lappalainen
Toivo Tikkanen
Nestor Toivonen
Karl Magnus Wegelius		 100 m team deer, single shots 159
Yrjö Kolho
Toivo Tikkanen
Nestor Toivonen
Vilho Vauhkonen
Karl Magnus Wegelius		 100 m team deer, double shots 285

Weightlifting
Main article: Weightlifting at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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.

Weightlifter Event Final
Result Rank
Rudolf Ekström 82.5 kg Did not finish

Wrestling
Main article: Wrestling at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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
Wrestler Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals / Bronze match Rank
Kalle Anttila Lightweight N/A  Deligny (FRA) (W)  Shimmon (USA) (W)  Thys (BEL) (W)  Svensson (SWE) (W)
Johan Gallén Light heavyweight N/A  Roosen (BEL) (W)  Larsson (SWE) (L) Did not advance 5
Eino Leino Middleweight Bye  Bron (SUI) (W)  Janssens (BEL) (W)  Johnson (USA) (W)  Penttala (FIN) (W)
Kaarlo Mäkinen Featherweight N/A  Gerson (USA) (L) Did not advance 9
Sven Mattsson Heavyweight N/A  Pendleton (USA) (L) Did not advance 5
Väinö Penttala Middleweight  Backsman (FRA) (W)  Bacon (GBR) (W)  Derkinderen (BEL) (W)  Frantz (USA) (W)  Leino (FIN) (L)
Jussi Salila Heavyweight N/A  Roth (SUI) (L) Did not advance 5
Emil Westerlund Light heavyweight N/A  Rhys (GBR) (W)  Maurer (USA) (L) Did not advance 5

Greco-Roman
Wrestler Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals Rank
Silver quarters Silver semis Silver match
Bronze quarters Bronze semis Bronze match
Oskari Friman Featherweight Bye  Gallery (USA) (W)  Svensson (SWE) (W)  Boumans (BEL) (W)  Kähkönen (FIN) (W)
N/A Won gold
Won gold
Heikki Kähkönen Featherweight Bye  Brian (USA) (W)  Torgensen (DEN) (W)  Pütsep (EST) (W)  Friman (FIN) (L)
N/A  Svensson (SWE) (W)  Boumans (BEL) (W)
Won silver
Adolf Lindfors Heavyweight  Gasiglia (FRA) (W)  Willkie (USA) (W)  Dame (FRA) (W)  Hansen (DEN) (W)  Ahlgren (SWE) (W)
Won gold
Won gold
Arthur Lindfors Middleweight  Christensen (DEN) (W)  Johnsen (NOR) (W)  Balej (TCH) (W)  Szymanski (USA) (W)  Westergren (SWE) (L)
Bye  Eillebrecht (NED) (W)  Perttilä (FIN) (W)
Won silver
Martin Nieminen Heavyweight Bye  Larsen (DEN) (W)  Hansen (DEN) (L) Did not advance
Did not advance
Bye  Willkie (USA) (W)  Weyand (USA) (W)
Matti Perttilä Middleweight  Cornelis (BEL) (W)  Nielsen (DEN) (W)  Fältström (SWE) (W)  Westergren (SWE) (L) Did not advance
Bye  Vanderleenden (BEL) (W)  Lindfors (FIN) (L)
Bye  Eillebrecht (NED) (W)  Johnsen (NOR) (W)
Anders Rajala Light heavyweight Bye  Tázler (TCH) (W)  Wahlem (BEL) (L) Did not advance 7
N/A Did not advance
N/A
Edil Rosenqvist Light heavyweight Bye  Johansson (SWE) (L) Did not advance
N/A  Tetens (DEN) (W)  Eriksen (DEN) (W)
N/A
Taavi Tamminen Lightweight Bye  Kopřiva (TCH) (W)  Frydenlund (NOR) (W)  Andersen (NOR) (W)  Väre (FIN) (W)
Bye  Janssens (BEL) (W)  Frisenfeldt (DEN) (W)
Won silver
Emil Väre Lightweight  Christiansen (DEN) (W)  Rohon (FRA) (W)  Janssens (BEL) (W)  Frisenfeldt (DEN) (W)  Tamminen (FIN) (W)
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.
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