Väinö Koskela

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameSeppo Väinö Aleksanteri•Koskela
Used nameVäinö•Koskela
Born31 March 1921 in Virolahti, Kymenlaakso (FIN)
Died10 September 2016 in Virolahti, Kymenlaakso (FIN)
Measurements180 cm / 72 kg
AffiliationsVirolahden Sampo, Virolahti (FIN)
NOC Finland

Biography

Väinö Koskela was a Finnish distance runner who ran the 5,000 metres at the 1948 London Olympics, finishing seventh, and the 10,000 metres at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, placing 16th. At the 1950 European Championships Koskela won bronze in the 10K behind Emil Zátopek and Alain Mimoun. He competed in 16 internationals between 1947-52, and in 1949-51 ran 30 hard races at his favored distance, the 5K. Koskela was Finnish Champion in the 5K in 1948-49 and won the national cross-country title in 1948.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 14:13.2 (1949); 10000 – 30:10.0 (1951).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Väinö Koskela
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 7
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Väinö Koskela
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 11 h3 r1/2
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 16

Special Notes