# Elmer Niklander

Elmer Konstantin Niklander (19 January 1890 – 12 November 1942) was a Finnish athlete who competed in throwing events, winning the gold medal in the 1920 discus throw and three other Olympic medals and 44 Finnish championships.

## Athletics

Niklander started training at the age of 12 and competing at 17. He trained mostly on his brother's farm.
He excelled in two-handed throwing events.

### Olympic Games

Elmer Niklander at the Olympic Games :
| Games | Event | Rank | Result | Notes |
| 1908 Summer Olympics | Men's Greek discus throw | 9th | 32.46 m | Source: |
| 1908 Summer Olympics | Men's shot put | 9th–25th | unknown | Result was not officially recorded. Result was circa 11 metres. At the age of 18 years and 179 days, he is the youngest competitor in shot put in Olympic history (with a known birthdate; Miltiadis Gouskos might be younger). |
| 1908 Summer Olympics | Men's discus throw | 12th–42nd | unknown | Result was not officially recorded. Result was circa 36 metres. |
| 1912 Summer Olympics | Men's shot put | 4th | 13.65 m | |
| 1912 Summer Olympics | Men's discus throw | 4th | 42.09 m | His first round throw. It broke the Olympic record, but was then broken on the second round. |
| 1912 Summer Olympics | Men's two handed shot put | 3rd | 27.14 m | |
| 1912 Summer Olympics | Men's two handed discus throw | 2nd | 77.96 m | |
| 1920 Summer Olympics | Men's shot put | 2nd | 14.155 m | |
| 1920 Summer Olympics | Men's discus throw | 1st | 44.685 m | |
| 1920 Summer Olympics | Men's 56 pound weight throw | 8th | 8.865 m | |
| 1924 Summer Olympics | Men's shot put | 6th | 14.265 m | His fourth entrance in the event, which ties him for the record of most appearances in Olympic men's shot put. |
| 1924 Summer Olympics | Men's discus throw | 7th | 42.09 m | |
In 1924, he served as the Olympic flag bearer for Finland.

### National

Niklander won 44 titles at the Finnish Championships in Athletics in throwing events in 1909–1924, a national record in itself. Summary:
* two-handed discus throw, 11 titles: 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920
* two-handed shot put, 11 titles: 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1924
* shot put, better hand only; 7 titles: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1924
* hammer throw, 6 titles: 1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918
* discus throw, better hand only; 5 titles: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918
* Greek discus throw, 2 titles: 1912, 1913
* weight throw, 2 titles: 1914, 1918
He also won 12 silvers and 1 bronze.

### Records and bests

Niklander broke a world record once:
* 20 July 1913, two-handed discus throw, 90.13 m. The record still stands.
He also broke two world records unofficially:
* 1909, two-handed shot put, 26.89 m
* 1910, two-handed discus throw, 87.12 m
Neither result was ratified as a record because the dimensions of the throwing circle weren't up to the international standard.
He broke several Finnish national records:
* 25 October 1907, shot put, 13.47 m
* 4 July 1909, shot put, 14.68 m
* 19 June 1910, discus throw, 44.88 m
* 15 August 1910, hammer throw, 40.04 m
* 19 July 1913, two-handed shot put, 27.75 m
* 7 June 1914, hammer throw, 45.95 m
* 1914, weight throw, 10.76 m
* 4 July 1915, hammer throw, 47.18 m
* 12 June 1916, hammer throw, 47.57 m
Personal bests per event:
* shot put, 14.86 m, 19 July 1913
* two-handed shot put, 27.75 m, 19 July 1913
* discus throw, 47.18 m, 16 July 1916
* two-handed discus throw, 90.13 m, 20 July 1913
* hammer throw, 47.57 m, 12 June 1916
* javelin throw, 54.19 m, 12 June 1916
* weight throw, 10.76 m, 1914

## Personal

Niklander was born in Rutajärvi village in Hausjärvi on 18 January 1890 to father Konstantin Niklander (1848–1903) and mother Henriika née Harjula (1858–1942). His younger brother Siivo (1883–1961) made two Finnish national records in shot put in 1907.
Before the Finnish Civil War, Niklander joined the Hausjärvi White Guard and took part in the Mommila skirmish in November 1917. For this, the Red Guard sentenced him to death, and once the war began, he had to go into hiding.
Niklander died of stomach cancer on 12 November 1942.

## Links

* Elmer Niklander at Olympedia