Veikko Kankkonen facts for kids
Veikko Kankkonen after winning the normal hill event at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 5 January 1940 (age 85) Sotkamo, Finland |
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| Height | 174 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75–78 kg (165–172 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Ski jumping | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Lahden Hiihtoseura, Lahti | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Veikko Kankkonen (born 5 January 1940) is a famous Finnish ski jumper who used to compete in the sport. He is best known for his amazing performance at the 1964 Winter Olympics. There, he won a gold medal and a silver medal in ski jumping. Veikko also won other big competitions, like the Four Hills Tournament. He even carried the flag for Finland at the 1968 Olympics!
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Veikko Kankkonen: A Ski Jumping Legend
Veikko Kankkonen was born on January 5, 1940, in Sotkamo, Finland. He grew up to become one of Finland's most successful ski jumpers. Ski jumping is a winter sport where athletes slide down a ramp and then launch themselves into the air. The goal is to jump as far as possible and land smoothly.
Early Olympic Adventures
Veikko started his Olympic journey early in his career. He first competed in the Winter Olympics in 1960. This was a great experience that helped him prepare for future competitions. He continued to train hard and improve his skills.
Golden Jumps at the 1964 Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, were a huge success for Veikko. He showed incredible talent and skill.
- He won a gold medal in the individual normal hill event. This means he was the best jumper on the smaller of the two main hills.
- He also earned a silver medal in the individual large hill event. This was for his strong performance on the bigger, more challenging hill.
Winning two medals at the same Olympics is a fantastic achievement for any athlete!
More Triumphs in 1964
Besides his Olympic medals, Veikko had an incredible year in 1964. He won the jumping competition at the famous Holmenkollen ski festival in Norway. This is a very important event in Nordic skiing. For his achievements, he was awarded the Holmenkollen medal. This special medal is given to top athletes in skiing. He shared this honor with other great skiers like Eero Mäntyranta and Georg Thoma.
Veikko also won the prestigious Four Hills Tournament. This is a series of four ski jumping competitions held in Germany and Austria. Winning this tournament shows a jumper's consistency and skill over several events.
Flag Bearer and Beyond
Veikko Kankkonen continued to compete at the highest level. He participated in the 1968 Winter Olympics as well. At these Games, he had the special honor of being the flag bearer for Finland. This means he led his country's team during the opening ceremony. It's a big honor for an athlete to represent their nation in this way.
Life Beyond the Ski Slopes
Even though Veikko was a top ski jumper, he also enjoyed other sports. He played pesäpallo, which is a Finnish version of baseball. He played for the Maila-Veikot Lahti club in national championships. He also played golf regularly and even competed at a national level, achieving a fourth-place finish.
Outside of sports, Veikko worked as a turner, which is someone who shapes materials using a machine. Later, he used his experience to become a ski jumping coach. His son, Anssi Kankkonen, followed in his footsteps in sports. Anssi became a professional golfer, but he also competed in ski jumping and won a national title in 1985.
