Paavo Aaltonen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full namePaavo Johannes•Aaltonen
Used namePaavo•Aaltonen
Born11 December 1919 in Kemi, Lappi (FIN)
Died9 September 1962 in Sipoo, Uusimaa (FIN)
Measurements175 cm / 64 kg
NOC Finland
Medals OG
Gold 3
Silver 0
Bronze 2
Total 5

Biography

Although he won three gold medals at the 1948 Games, Aaltonen’s pommelled horse title was the most remarkable, sharing his title with two compatriots: Heikki Savolainen and Veikko Huhtanen. With a third place overall, he also had a large contribution in Finland’s team gold. In 1950, Aaltonen won the horizontal bar event at the first post-war World Championships. His last competition was the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, where he won a fifth Olympic medal, finishing third with the Finnish team.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) FIN Paavo Aaltonen
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Finland 1 Gold
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =29
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) =7
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =12
Rings, Men (Olympic) =17
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =1 Gold
1952 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) FIN Paavo Aaltonen
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 20
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Finland 3 Bronze
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =24
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =35
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) =27
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =11
Rings, Men (Olympic) =38
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =40