Soini Nikkinen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameSoini Mikael•Nikkinen
Used nameSoini•Nikkinen
Born19 July 1923 in Kiuruvesi, Pohjois-Savo (FIN)
Died2 June 2012 in Nastola, Päijät-Häme (FIN)
Measurements184 cm / 84 kg
AffiliationsLahden Kaleva, Lahti (FIN)
NOC Finland

Biography

Soini Nikkinen was a Finnish javelin thrower at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, placing 12th and 8th respectively. His greatest international achievement came in winning a bronze medal at the 1954 European Championships. He won one Finnish title and had four silver and three bronze medals at the Finnish Championships. Nikkinnen set three Finnish javelin records, the last of which, 83.56 metres set in Kuhmoinen on 24 June 1956, was also a world record, although it lasted for only six days before it was surpassed by Poland’s Janusz Sidło.

Nikkinen worked for many years as the groundsman at Pajulahti Sports Institute near Lahti. A skillful carpenter, his cabinet clocks were known all over Finland for their beauty, many of them given as victory prizes at the Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival.

Personal Best: JT – 83.56 (1956).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Soini Nikkinen
Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) 12
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Soini Nikkinen
Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) 8

Special Notes