Kauko Hänninen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameKauko Antero•Hänninen
Used nameKauko•Hänninen
Nick/petnamesKake
Born28 January 1930 in Kinnula, Keski-Suomi (FIN)
Died26 August 2013 in Sipoo, Uusimaa (FIN)
Measurements183 cm / 84-88 kg
AffiliationsWärtsilän Soutajat, Helsinki (FIN) / Nesteen Soutajat, Naantali (FIN)
NOC Finland
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Kauko Hänninen became acquainted with water and boating early in life, as his father was a timber rafter and young Hänninen often accompanied his father to work. Hänninen took up competitive rowing at the age of 14 at the Helsinki Naval Base, where his father worked during World War II. Hänninen soon rose to be one of the top Finnish rowers of the 1950s. During his career, which lasted nearly two decades, Hänninen won an Olympic bronze in 1956 (in coxed fours), was European champion in 1956 (in coxed fours) and won two European Championships bronzes in 1955 (in coxed and coxless fours). He was also a 23-time Finnish champion – double sculls in 1967, coxless pairs in 1954 and 1966, coxed pairs in 1966, coxless fours in 1955-56 and 1965, coxed fours in 1955, 1958-60 and 1963-65; and coxed eights in 1955, 1957, 1959-62 and 1964-66. Outside of sports, Hänninen worked as a pipe fitter and welder, at first with Wärtsilä Oyj, the leading Finnish manufacturer of heavy marine equipment and later at the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard in Turku.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Rowing FIN Kauko Hänninen
Coxless Fours, Men (Olympic) Finland 2 h2 r2/4
Coxed Fours, Men (Olympic) Finland 3 Bronze
1960 Summer Olympics Rowing FIN Kauko Hänninen
Coxed Fours, Men (Olympic) Finland 5 h1 r3/4
1964 Summer Olympics Rowing FIN Kauko Hänninen
Coxed Fours, Men (Olympic) Finland 4 h2 r2/3
1968 Summer Olympics Rowing FIN Kauko Hänninen
Coxless Pairs, Men (Olympic) Pekka Sylvander 5 h1 r2/4