Eeles Landström

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameEelis Eenok "Eeles"•Landström
Used nameEeles•Landström
Born3 January 1932 in Viiala, Akaa, Pirkanmaa (FIN)
Died29 June 2022 in Helsinki, Uusimaa (FIN)
Measurements185 cm / 80-82 kg
AffiliationsRU-38, Pori (FIN) / Michigan Wolverines, Ann Arbor (USA)
NOC Finland
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Eeles Landström was one of Europe’s finest pole vaulters in the 1950s. He captured gold in that event at the European Championships in 1954 and 1958, won eight consecutive Finnish national championships from 1953 through 1960, and improved the national record 13 times, and the European record thrice. At the Olympics, however, he made his début in the decathlon at the 1952 Helsinki Games, where he placed 14th. Afterwards, he focused on the pole vault and placed 7th in 1956 before bringing home a bronze medal in 1960. He was Finland’s flag bearer in the opening ceremonies in both 1956 and 1960.

Landström attended college in the United States, at the University of Michigan, where he won two collegiate pole-vaulting titles, but sport was not his only talent. By career he worked in broadcasting, but also served in the Finnish parliament from 1966 through 1971 and wrote two youth novels, with his first receiving a national award in 1966.

Personal Bests: PV – 4.57 (1958); Dec – 6123 (1952).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Eeles Landström
Decathlon, Men (Olympic) 14
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Eeles Landström
Pole Vault, Men (Olympic) 7
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics FIN Eeles Landström
Pole Vault, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1956 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony FIN Eeles Landström
1960 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony FIN Eeles Landström

Special Notes