In 1920 Arvo Aaltonen became the first Finnish Olympic medalist in swimming and would remain the sole Finnish Olympic swimming medalist until Antti Kasvio won a bronze in the 200 freestyle in 1992. Aaltonen, a breaststroke specialist, also competed at the 1912 Olympics, where he was last in his 200 breaststroke semi-final and third in his 400 breaststroke semifinal. In 1920 Aaltonen won bronze behind two Swedes Håkan Malmrot and Thor Henning in both breaststroke events on the Olympic Programme, 200 and 400 metres, and he also competed at the 1924 Olympics. At the Nordic Championships, Aaltonen won gold in the 200 breaststroke in 1923 and silver in the 200 breaststroke in 1919 and 1927. Domestically, Aaltonen won 22 Finnish titles: 100 breaststroke – 1912, 1915-17; 200 breaststroke – 1909, 1911-13, 1915-16, 1919-21, 1923, 1925-27; and 400 breaststroke – 1912-13, 1915-17. Aaltonen was a board member of the Finnish Swimming Federation from 1924-30 and 1946-47. After finishing his sporting career, Aaltonen emigrated to Canada in 1929, but returned to Finland in 1937.
Personal Best: 100 m breaststroke – 1:23.1 (1919); 200 m breaststroke – 2:58.9 (1925); 400 m breaststroke – 6:25.4 (1913).
Finland