Rainer Pelkonen

Rainer Pelkonen trained in track athletics from a young age and was chosen to train to represent Finland at the 1948 London Olympics. His father, however, was concerned about the global situation and thus Rainer remained at home. Four years later, however, he took the opportunity to compete in his home Olympics in Helsinki, where he was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 400 metres hurdles and did not start the 800 metres. Domestically, he had been the Finnish champion in the hurdles that year, having won bronze in 1950, and he also won 11 titles in 4x400 and 4x800 metres relay races between 1946 and 1954.

Pelkonen trained as a physical education teacher, and after his retirement he founded both a private high school and a sports school. He continued to compete at the masters’ level and won two titles at the 2009 World Championships in the 80+ age category: the 1,500 metres and the 4x400 metres relay.

Personal Best: 400H – 53.6 (1953).