Arvo Viitanen

Arvo Albert Viitanen ( born April 12, 1924 in Uurainen; † 28 April 1999 in Anjalankoski ) was a Finnish cross-country skiers. Between 1954 and 1958, Viitanen won seven medals at the World Championships and Olympic Games.

Life and career

Viitanen started at the age of 30 years for the first time in an international competition, the 1954 Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun. In the triple success of the Finnish team over the 15-kilometer distance, he won the silver medal behind Veikko Hakulinen. About the 50 km distance he had to only Vladimir Kuzin and beaten his compatriot Hakulinen again give and won the bronze medal. With outstanding Finnish squadron, who won by a margin of two minutes before the Soviet team, he secured his first world title. Two years later at the Olympic Winter Games 1956 in Cortina d' Ampezzo, he had to deal with the Finnish team, however, the Soviet team defeated and won the silver medal in the relay competition his only Olympic medal. In the 15 km competition, the only individual event in which he took part, he was ninth. This year he was able to go on the winners' list of the 50 km competition at Holmenkollen. In the Nordic World Ski Championships 1958 in Lahti domestic succeeded Viitanen to win an individual medal again. Sixten Jernberg Behind the Sweden and his compatriot Veikko Hakulinen, he secured his second bronze medal at the World Championships. With the Finnish season he was able to increase his medal haul to a bronze medal.