Finland’s Marcus Nikkanen was a three times Olympian in men’s singles figure skating, having his best result in the Winter Games of 1932 in Lake Placid, with a fourth place. In 1928, he fell ill between the compulsories and the free-skate dropping from fourth to sixth place; and in 1932 he had to pay his own travel expenses due to lack of funds. Between 1929 and 1937 he competed in seven World and four European Championships, never placing worse than seventh. At these events, he earned two bronze medals (1933 World and 1930 European Championships.) At home, he won 10 Finnish Championships (1927-30, 1934-35, 1938-39, 1945-1946). After World War II, he went to the United States and coached at the New York Skating Club from 1945 to 1951. Later he founded a skating school in Toronto, Canada but in the late 1970s Nikkanen returned to his hometown of Helsinki. During his time in North America he coached, amongst others, 1976 Olympic champion Dorothy Hamill and Canadian Olympian Charles Snelling. His brother Bertel was also a three times Finnish Champion in figure skating in years between Marcus’ victories.
Finland