Elmer Niklander

Elmer Niklander

Elmer Niklander at the 1912 Olympics
Personal information
Born	19 January 1890 Rutajärvi, Hausjärvi, Finland
Died	12 November 1942 (aged 52) Helsinki, Finland
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	79 kg (174 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Discus throw, hammer throw, javelin throw, shot put
Club	Helsingin Reipas, Helsinki
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	DT – 47.18 m (1916) HT – 47.57 m (1916) JT – 54.19 m (1916) SP – 14.86 m (1913)[1]
Medal record Representing Olympic Games 1912 Stockholm Two-handed discus throw 1912 Stockholm Two-handed shot put 1920 Antwerp Discus throw 1920 Antwerp Shot put

Elmer Konstantin Niklander (19 January 1890 – 12 November 1942) was a Finnish athlete who competed in discus throw and shot put at the 1908, 1912, 1920 and 1924 Olympics. In 1924 he also served as the Olympic flag bearer for Finland.^[2]

Niklander finished outside of the podium in 1908 and 1924 and won his first two medals in 1912, a silver in two-handed discus throw and a bronze in the two-handed shot put. In those two-handed throwing events the total was counted as a sum of best throws with a right hand and with a left hand. He finished fourth in the conventional discus throw and shot put. After having his career hampered by the First World War, he made a strong return at the 1920 Summer Olympics by winning gold in the discus throw and silver in the shot put.^[3][4]

Niklander, nicknamed "Oitin kanuuna" ("Cannon from Oitti"), became an Olympic athlete through practice in his home yard and by taking part in athletic competitions arranged by the local fire department.^[4] He won 44 national titles in various weight throwing events between 1909 and 1924.^[3]

References

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