Veli Lehtelä facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Veli Lehtelä

Lehtelä at the 1964 European Championships
Personal information
Born	6 September 1935 (1935-09-06) Sääksmäki, Finland
Died	3 June 2020(2020-06-03) (aged 84) Valkeakoski, Finland
Height	183 cm
Weight	74–76 kg
Sport
Sport	Rowing
Medal record Representing  Finland Olympic Games Bronze 1956 Melbourne Coxed four Bronze 1960 Rome Coxless pair European Rowing Championships Silver 1955 Ghent Coxed pair Gold 1956 Bled Coxed four Gold 1958 Poznań Coxless pair Silver 1961 Prague Coxless pair

Veli Veikko Valtteri Lehtelä (born September 6, 1935 – died June 3, 2020) was a famous Finnish rower. He was a very skilled athlete. Veli competed in the Olympic Games three times.

He won two bronze medals for Finland. One was in 1956 and another in 1960. His son, Jorma Lehtelä, also became an Olympic rower.

Veli's Rowing Career

Veli Lehtelä spent most of his rowing career with his partner, Toimi Pitkänen. They were a very strong team. Together, they achieved many great things.

Olympic Success

Veli and Toimi won two bronze medals at the Olympics.

• In 1956, they won bronze in the coxed four event.
• In 1960, they won bronze in the coxless pair event.

They also competed in the 1964 Olympics. There, they finished sixth in the coxless pair event.

European Championships

Veli Lehtelä also had great success at the European Rowing Championships. He won several medals there.

• In 1955, he won a silver medal.
• In 1956, he won a gold medal.
• In 1958, he won another gold medal.
• In 1961, he won a silver medal.

Veli Lehtelä was a true champion. He showed great dedication to rowing. His achievements made Finland proud.

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