Veikko Hakulinen facts for kids
Hakulinen in 1959
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| Full name | Veikko Johannes Hakulinen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 January 1925 Kurkijoki, Finland |
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| Died | 24 October 2003 (aged 78) Valkeakoski, Finland |
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| Height | 173 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 66 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Cross-country skiing, biathlon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Asikkalan Raikas Valkeakosken Haka Jämsänkosken Ilves Evon Metsäpojat Tampereen Hiihtoseura Tampereen Pyrintö Tampereen Maila. |
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Medal record
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Veikko Johannes Hakulinen (born January 4, 1925 – died October 24, 2003) was a famous Finnish athlete. He was a champion in cross-country skiing and also competed in biathlon. He won many medals at the Olympics and World Championships.
Contents
Veikko's Early Life and Career
Veikko Hakulinen was born in Kurkijoki, Finland. He grew up to become one of the best cross-country skiers in the world. He was known for his amazing endurance and strength.
Olympic Gold Medals
Veikko won his first Olympic gold medal in 1952. This was at the Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. He won the tough 50-kilometer cross-country skiing race. His time was exactly 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 33 seconds!
He won another gold medal in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This time, he won the 30-kilometer race. In 1960, at the Squaw Valley Olympics, he helped his team win gold in the 4 × 10 kilometer relay race.
More Olympic Medals
Besides his three gold medals, Veikko also won silver and bronze medals. In 1956, he got two silver medals. One was for the 50-kilometer race and another for the 4 × 10 kilometer relay.
In 1960, he earned a silver medal in the 50-kilometer race. He also won a bronze medal in the 15-kilometer race. This means he won a total of seven Olympic medals!
World Championship Wins
Veikko was also very successful at the World Championships. He won three gold medals there too. In 1954, he won the 15-kilometer race and the 4 × 10 kilometer relay. He won another 15-kilometer gold in 1958.
He also earned three silver medals and one bronze medal at the World Championships. This shows how consistently good he was.
Other Sports and Awards
Veikko was not just a skier. He also competed in other sports. These included biathlon, orienteering, and even rowing. He was a very versatile athlete.
In Finland, he was named the "Sports Personality of the Year" several times. This happened in 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1960. He also received the Holmenkollen medal in 1955. This is a very special award in skiing.
Life After Sports
Veikko Hakulinen worked as a forester. He also served in the Finnish Army as a sergeant. He passed away in 2003 in a car accident. He was 78 years old. Veikko Hakulinen is remembered as one of Finland's greatest athletes.
Images for kids
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A robot, symbolizing learning and exploration.
See also
In Spanish: Veikko Hakulinen para niños
