Veikko Hakulinen

Veikko Johannes Hakulinen (January 4 1925 – October 24 2003) was a Finnish forestry technician and cross country skier, triple champion in both the olympics and world championship competition in cross country skiing. Besides his main forte, he also competed in biathlon, orienteering, ski-orienteering, cross country running and rowing at a national level and continued in senior competition.

Biography

Hakulinen was born in Kurkijoki, Viipuri Province and died in Valkeakoski after a traffic accident.

Sports teams Hakulinen has represented in his career include "Asikkalan Raikas", "Valkeakosken Haka", "Jämsänkosken Ilves", "Evon Metsäpojat", "Tampereen Hiihtoseura", "Tampereen Pyrintö" and "Tampereen Maila".

In the 1952 Winter Olympics, Hakulinen won the 50 km gold with the legendary and memorable time of 3:33.33. Finland also won gold in the 4 x 10 km relay, ahead of Norway, but Hakulinen was not on the team (which had Heikki Hasu, Paavo Lonkila, Urpo Korhonen, and Tapio Mäkelä). Hakulinen was however on Finland's winning relay team in the 1960 Winter Olympics, and won the 30 km gold in the 1956 Winter Olympics. His fourth Olympics were the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he competed as a biathloner. In Finland, Hakulinen was chosen sports personality of the year in the years 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1960. He was decorated with the Pro Urheilu letter of recognition 2000.

Hakulinen also won the 50 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival twice (1953 and 1955), the 18 km (1953) and the 15 km (1957). For his efforts in cross-country skiing, Hakulinen was awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1955 (shared with King Haakon VII, Hallgeir Brenden, and Sverre Stenersen).

Hakulinen's military rank was sergeant. He died in a car accident on October 24, 2003. [" [http://www.noc.fi/english/archive/news/?num=13653&JKNUM=13653 Veikko Hakulinen Dies in Road Accident] ", "Finnish Olympic Committee", 2003-10-28]

Accomplishments

World Championships

* Falun 1954 - 2 gold (15 km, relay) and 2 silver (30 km and 50 km)
* Lahti 1958 - gold (15 km), silver (50 km) and bronze (relay)

National level competition

National championships 4 in years inclusive 1954-1963 National championships in the 4 x 10 km team relay event 5 times in within 1954-1964.

Biathlon

* World championships, Seefeld 1963 - silver (team competition), sixth (20 km)
* Olympics, Innsbruck 1964 - 15th (20 km)
* World championships, Elverum 1965 - fifth (team competition), 31st (20 km)

Bibliography

* Hakulinen, Veikko. "Haku-Veikko, suurhiihtäjä Veikko Hakulisen muistelmat" 1999 (an autobiography)
* Kolkka, Sulo. "Veikko Hakulinen, latujen valtias" 1960 (biography)

References

External links

*FIS|S=CC|ID=22856
* [http://www.skiforeningen.no/holmenkollen/holmenkollen_historikk Holmenkollen medalists] - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file no icon
* [http://www.skiforeningen.no/holmenkollen/holmenkollen_historikk Holmenkollen winners since 1892] - click Vinnere for downloadable pdf file no icon