Ilmari Keinänen

Ilmari Keinänen graduated from school in Kuopio in 1908 and earned his qualification as a gymnastics teacher in 1911. A member of the student gymnasts’ demonstration team from 1908 to 1911, he was a well-known all-around gymnast when he was selected for the Finnish gymnastics team that won silver behind Norway in the free system at the 1912 Olympic Games. He worked as a gymnastics teacher at his former school until 1917.

Keinänen then became assistant manager at the Kuopio branch of the Agricultural Bank. From 1922-26 he worked for the company Saastamoinen, at the time mainly active in the sawmill industry. Keinänen returned to the Agricultural Bank in Kuopio, where he stayed until 1933, when he took over the Joensuu branch. With his wife Toini he had one daughter.

Keinänen was also active in other sports like swimming and athletics and became decathlon champion of the Northern Savo district for two consecutive years (1913-14). Keinänen held various positions in sport organisations of the Savo region. He was the first secretary of Kuopio’s sports committee in 1921–33. Keinänen was secretary of the Finnish Gymnastics and Sports Federation’s (SVUL) Northern Savo district (1912-15), a member of the board (1915-25), and eventually chairman from 1925-33. His club, Kuopion Reippa, ceased to exist in 1920 and was replaced by Kuopio Urheilu-Veikko. Keinänen was elected as its first chairman. In 1929, he led the men’s mass gymnastics exhibition at the Kuopio gymnastics festival. One year later, he was awarded the SVUL Medal of Merit.