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) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Ski jumping | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Lahden Hiihtoseura, Lahti | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Veikko Kankkonen is a famous Finnish athlete. He was born on January 5, 1940. Veikko is best known for his amazing skills in ski jumping. He competed in the Winter Olympics three times. These were in 1960, 1964, and 1968.
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Veikko Kankkonen: A Ski Jumping Champion
Veikko Kankkonen is a true legend in ski jumping. This sport involves skiing down a ramp. Then, athletes launch into the air. They try to fly as far as possible. Veikko was one of the best in his time.
Olympic Success in 1964
The 1964 Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria. This was a very special event for Veikko. He won two medals there. He earned a gold medal in the individual normal hill event. He also won a silver medal in the individual large hill event. These medals were also counted as World Championship medals.
Other Big Wins
Veikko Kankkonen had many other important victories. In 1964, he won the jumping competition. This was at the famous Holmenkollen ski festival in Norway. Winning this event also earned him the Holmenkollen medal. He shared this special award with three other great athletes.
He also won the Four Hills Tournament. This is a very tough ski jumping competition. It takes place in Germany and Austria. Veikko was also chosen for a big honor. He was the flag bearer for Finland. This happened at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
Life Beyond Ski Jumping
Veikko Kankkonen was not just a ski jumper. He was a talented athlete in other sports too.
Other Sports
He played pesäpallo for a club called Maila-Veikot Lahti. Pesäpallo is a Finnish sport. It is similar to baseball. He played in the national championships in 1963 and 1964. Veikko also enjoyed playing golf. He often competed at the national level. His best golf result was finishing in fourth place.
His Work and Family
Veikko Kankkonen worked as a turner. This means he used machines to shape metal or wood. Later, he became a ski jumping coach. He helped other athletes learn the sport. His son, Anssi Kankkonen, also became an athlete. Anssi became a professional golfer. He also competed in ski jumping. Anssi even won a national title in ski jumping in 1985.
