Yrjö Nikkanen

Jouko Yrjö Nikkanen ( born December 31, 1914 in Kanneljärvi, South Karelia, today Pobeda, † November 18, 1985 in Suoniemi at Nokia ) was a Finnish athlete who scored in the 30s and 40s of the 20th century the world's best in the javelin. He threw two world records and won at the Olympic Games and European Championships a total of three silver medals.

Achievements

  • XIII. Summer Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936: SILVER with 70.77 m behind the German Gerhard Stöck with 71.84 meters and his countryman Kalervo Toivonen with 70.72 m
  • European Championships 1938 in Paris: SILVER with 75,00 m behind compatriot Matti Järvinen with 76.87 m and before Hungary József Várszegi with 72.78 m
  • European Championships 1946 in Oslo: SILVER with 67,50 m behind the Swede Lennart Atterwall with 68.74 meters and his countryman Tapio Rautavaara with 66,40 m
  • World Records 77.87 m on 25 August 1938 in Karhula (improvement of 2 year old record by Matti Järvinen by 64 cm)
  • 78,70 m on October 16, 1938 in Kotka. This world record was to become one of the most durable in the history of athletics: Only 15 years later the Americans Bud screwed it held on 80,41 m.

Power development

1938 European Athletics Championships 1946 European Athletics Championships Bud Held
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