Elmer Konstantin Niklander (19 January 1890 – 12 November 1942) was a Finnish athlete who competed in throwing events, winning the gold medal in the 1920 discus throw and three other Olympic medals and 44 Finnish championships.
Elmer Niklander
Elmer Niklander at the 1912 Olympics
Personal information
Full name
Elmer Konstantin Niklander
Nickname(s)
Elmeri, Niku, Oitin kanuuna
National team
Finland
Born
(1890-01-19)19 January 1890 Hausjärvi, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died
12 November 1942(1942-11-12) (aged 52) Helsinki, Finland
Monument
statue Oitin kanuuna Elmer Niklander by Evert Porila in 1917
Occupation
farmer
Height
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight
79 kg (174 lb)
Sport
Sport
Athletics
Events
Discus throw
Hammer throw
Javelin throw
Shot put
Club
Helsingin Kisa-Veikot
Helsingin Reipas
Oitin VPK:n urheilijat
Achievements and titles
National finals
44 Finnish championships in throwing events in 1909–1924
Result was not officially recorded.[3] Result was circa 11 metres.[4] At the age of 18 years and 179 days, he is the youngest competitor in shot put in Olympic history (with a known birthdate; Miltiadis Gouskos might be younger).[5]
Niklander was born in Rutajärvi village in Hausjärvi on 18 January 1890 to father Konstantin Niklander (1848–1903) and mother Henriika née Harjula (1858–1942).[15] His younger brother Siivo (1883–1961) made two Finnish national records in shot put in 1907.[9]
Before the Finnish Civil War, Niklander joined the Hausjärvi White Guard and took part in the Mommila skirmish in November 1917. For this, the Red Guard sentenced him to death, and once the war began, he had to go into hiding.[16]
Niklander died of stomach cancer on 12 November 1942.[17]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elmer Niklander.
^ abUnkuri, Juhana (2022). Suomen 100 parasta urheilijaa kautta aikain (in Finnish). Juhana Unkuri. pp. 186–188. ISBN 9789529465682.
^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. 95. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
^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. 90. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
^ abJukola, Martti (1952). Suuri olympiakirja (in Finnish). Porvoo: WSOY. pp. 40–41.
^Butler, Mark, ed. (2016). IAAF Statistics Handbook. Special Edition. Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Rio 2016(PDF). IAAF Communications Department. p. 24. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^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. 93. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
^Butler, Mark, ed. (2016). IAAF Statistics Handbook. Special Edition. Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Rio 2016(PDF). IAAF Communications Department. p. 172. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Finland". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
^ abSiukonen, Markku (2001). Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000. Suuri olympiateos (in Finnish). Vol. 12. Jyväskylä: Graface. p. 222. ISBN 951-98673-1-7.
^ abcdLilja, Hannu (2008). Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana (in Finnish). Tampere: Mediapinta. p. 144. ISBN 978-952-235-015-2.
^ abcRantala, Risto; Siukonen, Markku; Tukiainen, Seppo, eds. (1972). Urheilumme kasvot. Osa 2. Suunnistus ja yleisurheilu (in Finnish). Jyväskylä: Scandia kirjat. p. 1248.
^ abLaitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 583.
^Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 584.
^ abcdLaitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 585.
^Lilja, Hannu (2008). Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana (in Finnish). Tampere: Mediapinta. pp. 30–32. ISBN 978-952-235-015-2.
^Lilja, Hannu (2008). Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana (in Finnish). Tampere: Mediapinta. pp. 71–79. ISBN 978-952-235-015-2.
^Lilja, Hannu (2008). Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana (in Finnish). Tampere: Mediapinta. p. 124. ISBN 978-952-235-015-2.