Veikko Huhtanen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameVeikko Aarne Aleks•Huhtanen
Used nameVeikko•Huhtanen
Nick/petnamesVeke
Born5 June 1919 in Vyborg, Leningrad (RUS)
Died29 January 1976 in Helsinki, Uusimaa (FIN)
Measurements176 cm
NOC Finland
Medals OG
Gold 3
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 5

Biography

Without the doubt, the highlight of Veikko Huhtanen’s career was the 1948 Olympics. He was the most successful gymnast of those games with five medals, winning golds in individual all-around, in pommelled horse and in team event, silver in parallel bars and bronze in horizontal bar. At the World Championships, Huhtanen won only two silvers – in horizontal bar and in team event – both in 1950. Domestically, Huhtanen was also not as successful, winning only one individual Finnish title in horizontal bar in 1948 and three team titles (1939, 1941, 1945). He also won Finnish Championship silvers in individual all-around and parallel bars in 1948 and bronzes on vault (1948) and in individual all-around (1949-50). Huhtanen retired after he was not selected to the 1952 Finnish Olympic team and later worked as a machine operator in the factory and also acted as a gymnastics referee.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) FIN Veikko Huhtanen
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Finland 1 Gold
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =34
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) 6
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Rings, Men (Olympic) =11
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =1 Gold