Elmer Niklander
{{Short description|Finnish athlete (1890–1942)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Elmer Niklander
| image = Elmer Niklander 1912.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Elmer Niklander at the 1912 Olympics
| fullname = Elmer Konstantin Niklander
| nickname = Elmeri, Niku, Oitin kanuuna
| national_team = Finland
| monuments = statue Oitin kanuuna Elmer Niklander by Evert Porila in 1917
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1890|01|19}}
| birth_place = Hausjärvi, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1942|11|12|1890|01|19}}
| death_place = Helsinki, Finland
| occupation = farmer
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|79|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| sport = Athletics
| event = {{ubl|Discus throw|Hammer throw|Javelin throw|Shot put}}
| club = {{ubl|Helsingin Kisa-Veikot|Helsingin Reipas|Oitin VPK:n urheilijat}}
| nationals = 44 Finnish championships in throwing events in 1909–1924
| pb = {{ubl|Discus throw: 47.18 m (1916)|Two-handed discus throw: 90.13 m (1913) WR|Hammer throw: 47.57 m (1916)|Javelin throw: 54.19 m (1916)|Shot put: 14.86 m (1913)|Two-handed shot put: 27.75 m (1913)|Weight throw: 10.76 m (1914)}}
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|Finland {{flagicon|RUS}} {{flagicon|FIN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games}}
{{MedalGold| 1920 Antwerp | Discus throw}}
{{MedalSilver| 1912 Stockholm | Two-handed discus throw}}
{{MedalSilver| 1920 Antwerp | Shot put}}
{{MedalBronze| 1912 Stockholm | Two-handed shot put}}
}}
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.
Athletics
Niklander started training at the age of 12 and competing at 17. He trained mostly on his brother's farm.{{cite book | last1 = Unkuri | first1 = Juhana | date = 2022 | title = Suomen 100 parasta urheilijaa kautta aikain | language = fi | publisher = Juhana Unkuri | pages = 186–188 | isbn = 9789529465682}}
= Olympic Games =
In 1924, he served as the Olympic flag bearer for Finland.{{Cite sports-reference | title = Finland | url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/FIN/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040833/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/FIN/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 17 April 2020 | accessdate = 11 July 2018 }}
= National =
Niklander won 44 titles at the Finnish Championships in Athletics in throwing events in 1909–1924, a national record in itself. Summary:
- two-handed discus throw, 11 titles: 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920
- two-handed shot put, 11 titles: 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1924
- shot put, better hand only; 7 titles: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1924
- hammer throw, 6 titles: 1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918
- discus throw, better hand only; 5 titles: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918
- Greek discus throw, 2 titles: 1912, 1913
- weight throw, 2 titles: 1914, 1918
= Records and bests =
Niklander broke a world record once:
- 20 July 1913, two-handed discus throw, 90.13 m. The record still stands.{{cite book | last1 = Lilja | first1 = Hannu | year = 2008 | title = Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana | language = fi | location = Tampere | publisher = Mediapinta | page = 144 | isbn = 978-952-235-015-2}}
He also broke two world records unofficially:
- 1909, two-handed shot put, 26.89 m
- 1910, two-handed discus throw, 87.12 m
Neither result was ratified as a record because the dimensions of the throwing circle weren't up to the international standard.{{cite book | year = 1972 | editor1-last = Rantala | editor1-first = Risto | editor2-last = Siukonen | editor2-first = Markku | editor3-last = Tukiainen | editor3-first = Seppo | title = Urheilumme kasvot. Osa 2. Suunnistus ja yleisurheilu | language = fi | location = Jyväskylä | publisher = Scandia kirjat | page = 1248}}
He broke several Finnish national records:
- 25 October 1907, shot put, 13.47 m{{cite book | last1 = Laitinen | first1 = Esa | year = 1987 | title = Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa | language = fi | location = Helsinki | publisher = Finnish Amateur Athletic Association | page = 583}}
- 4 July 1909, shot put, 14.68 m
- 19 June 1910, discus throw, 44.88 m{{cite book | last1 = Laitinen | first1 = Esa | year = 1987 | title = Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa | language = fi | location = Helsinki | publisher = Finnish Amateur Athletic Association | page = 584}}
- 15 August 1910, hammer throw, 40.04 m{{cite book | last1 = Laitinen | first1 = Esa | year = 1987 | title = Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa | language = fi | location = Helsinki | publisher = Finnish Amateur Athletic Association | page = 585}}
- 19 July 1913, two-handed shot put, 27.75 m
- 7 June 1914, hammer throw, 45.95 m
- 1914, weight throw, 10.76 m
- 4 July 1915, hammer throw, 47.18 m
- 12 June 1916, hammer throw, 47.57 m
- shot put, 14.86 m, 19 July 1913
- two-handed shot put, 27.75 m, 19 July 1913
- discus throw, 47.18 m, 16 July 1916
- two-handed discus throw, 90.13 m, 20 July 1913
- hammer throw, 47.57 m, 12 June 1916
- javelin throw, 54.19 m, 12 June 1916
- weight throw, 10.76 m, 1914
Personal
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).{{cite book | last1 = Lilja | first1 = Hannu | year = 2008 | title = Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana | language = fi | location = Tampere | publisher = Mediapinta | pages = 30–32 | isbn = 978-952-235-015-2}} His younger brother Siivo (1883–1961) made two Finnish national records in shot put in 1907.{{cite book | last1 = Siukonen | first1 = Markku | year = 2001 | title = Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000 | series = Suuri olympiateos | language = fi | volume = 12 | location = Jyväskylä | publisher = Graface | page = 222 | isbn = 951-98673-1-7 }}
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.{{cite book | last1 = Lilja | first1 = Hannu | year = 2008 | title = Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana | language = fi | location = Tampere | publisher = Mediapinta | pages = 71–79 | isbn = 978-952-235-015-2}}
Niklander died of stomach cancer on 12 November 1942.{{cite book | last1 = Lilja | first1 = Hannu | year = 2008 | title = Oitin kanuuna. Elmer Niklander, heittolajien kuningas oman aikansa kuvastajana | language = fi | location = Tampere | publisher = Mediapinta | pages = 124 | isbn = 978-952-235-015-2}}
Links
- {{Olympedia}}
References
{{Commons category|Elmer Niklander}}
{{reflist|refs=}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Discus Throw Men}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niklander, Elmer}}
Category:People from Hausjärvi
Category:Finnish male discus throwers
Category:Finnish male shot putters
Category:Olympic athletes for Finland
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Finland
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Finland
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Finland
Category:Medalists at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)
Category:Olympic weight throwers
Category:People of the Finnish Civil War (White side)
Category:People sentenced to death in absentia
Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in Finland