# Finland at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Finland competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium for the first time as a fully independent state. It competed independently in 1908 and 1912 as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire. 63 competitors, 62 men and 1 woman, took part in 51 events in 9 sports.

## Medalists
### Gold

* Athletics
** Men's 10000 m: Paavo Nurmi
** Men's cross country individual: Paavo Nurmi
** Men's cross country team: Frederick Teudor Koskenniemi, Heikki Liimatainen, Paavo Nurmi
** Men's discus throw: Elmer Konstantin Niklander
** Men's javelin throw: Jonni Myyrä
** Men's marathon: Hannes Kolehmainen
** Men's pentathlon: Eero Reino Lehtonen
** Men's shot put: Frans Wilhelmi Pörhölä
** Men's triple jump: Vilho Immanuel Tuulos
* Figure skating (on ice)
** Mixed pairs: Ludowika Jakobsson, Walter Jakobsson
* Wrestling
** Men's freestyle 60–67.5 kg (lightweight): Kalle Anttila
** Men's freestyle 67.5–75 kg (middleweight): Eino Aukusti Leino
** Men's Greco-Roman +82 kg (super heavyweight): Adolf Valentin Lindfors
** Men's Greco-Roman -60 kg (featherweight): Oskar David Friman
** Men's Greco-Roman 60–67.5 kg (lightweight): Eemil Ernesti Väre

### Silver

* Athletics
** Men's 5000 m: Paavo Nurmi
** Men's discus throw: Armas Rudolf Taipale
** Men's javelin throw: Urho Pellervo Peltonen
** Men's shot put: Elmer Konstantin Niklander
* Shooting
** Men's team, 100 m running deer, single shot: Yrjö Kolho, Kaarlo Kustaa Lappalainen, Robert Tikkanen, Nestori Toivonen, Magnus Wegelius
* Wrestling
** Men's freestyle 67.5–75 kg (middleweight): Väinö Penttala
** Men's Greco-Roman -60 kg (featherweight): Heikki Kähkönen
** Men's Greco-Roman 60–67.5 kg (lightweight): Taavi Tamminen
** Men's Greco-Roman 67.5–75 kg (middleweight): Arthur Lindfors
** Men's Greco-Roman 75–82 kg (light-heavyweight): Edil Rosenqvist

### Bronze

* Athletics
** Men's cross country individual: Heikki Liimatainen
** Men's javelin throw: Paavo Jaale-Johansson
** Men's pentathlon: Hugo Jalmari Lahtinen
* Shooting
** Men's team, 100 m running deer, double shots: Yrjö Kolho, Robert Tikkanen, Nestori Toivonen, Vilho Vauhkonen, Magnus Wegelius
** Men's team 300 m free rifle, prone: Voitto Waldemar Kolho, Kaarlo Kustaa Lappalainen, Veli Nieminen, Vilho Vauhkonen, Magnus Wegelius
* Swimming
** Men's 200 m breaststroke: Arvo Ossian Aaltonen
** Men's 400 m breaststroke: Arvo Ossian Aaltonen
* Wrestling
** Men's Greco-Roman + 82 kg (super heavyweight): Martti Nieminen
** Men's Greco-Roman 67.5–75 kg (middleweight): Matti Perttilä

## Aquatics
### Diving

Three divers, all men, represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport. Valkama was the only diver to advance to a final, placing fifth in the plain high diving. This result matched Finland's best diving result to date.

#### Men

Ranks given are within the semifinal group.
| Diver | Event | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| Diver | Event | Points | Score | Rank | Points | Score | Rank |
| Kalle Kainuvaara | 10 m platform | 35 | 356.80 | 7 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Kalle Kainuvaara | Plain high dive | 15 | 160.0 | 4 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Lauri Kyöstilä | 10 m platform | 21 | 441.80 | 4 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Yrjö Valkama | Plain high dive | 14 | 157.0 | 3 Q | 23 | 167.5 | 5 |

### Swimming

A single swimmer represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport as well as the Olympics. Aaltonen won bronze medals in both of his breaststroke events. They were Finland's first Olympic swimming medals; Aaltonen had been the first Finn to advance to a swimming event final.
Ranks given are within the heat.

#### Men

| Swimmer | Event | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Swimmer | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Arvo Aaltonen | 200 m breast | 3:11.6 | 2 Q | 3:12.4 | 2 Q | 3:12.2 | |
| Arvo Aaltonen | 400 m breast | 6:50.0 | 2 Q | 6:45.0 | 1 Q | 6:48.0 | |

## Athletics

26 athletes represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in athletics, a sport in which Finland had competed each time the country appeared at the Olympics. The Finnish team garnered nine gold medals, matching the United States for the most in that category. With only about a quarter of the number of athletes, however, the Finns could not match the depth of the United States and finished with 13 fewer total medals.
The Finland team's greatest successes came in long distance running events (gold medals in the 10,000 metres, marathon, individual cross country, and team cross country) and throwing events (golds in the discus throw, shot put, and javelin throw—sweeping the medals in the latter). They also took the championships in the triple jump and the pentathlon.
Ranks given are within the heat.
| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Hannes Kolehmainen | Marathon | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2:32:35.8 | |
| Tatu Kolehmainen | Marathon | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2:44:02.3 | 10 |
| Teodor Koskenniemi | 5000 m | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15:22.0 | 3 Q | 15:17.0 | 4 |
| Teodor Koskenniemi | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 27:57.2 | 6 |
| Heikki Liimatainen | 10000 m | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 32:08.2 | 1 Q | 32:28.0 | 7 |
| Heikki Liimatainen | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 27:37.0 | |
| Hannes Miettinen | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Unknown | 23 |
| Paavo Nurmi | 5000 m | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15:33.0 | 2 Q | 15:00.0 | |
| Paavo Nurmi | 10000 m | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 33:46.3 | 2 Q | 31:45.8 | |
| Paavo Nurmi | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 27:15.0 | |
| Eino Rastas | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Unknown | 18 |
| Oskari Rissanen | 3000 m steeplechase | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 11:07.5 | 3 Q | did not start | did not start |
| Urho Tallgren | Marathon | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2:42:40.0 | 9 |
| Juho Tuomikoski | Marathon | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2:40:18.8 | 5 |
| Ilmari Vesamaa | 5000 m | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15:54.4 | 4 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Ilmari Vesamaa | 3000 m steeplechase | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10:32.2 | 4 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Ilmari Vesamaa | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Unknown | 14 |
| Valdemar Wickholm | 400 m hurdles | N/A | N/A | 57.9 | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Erik Wilén | 400 m | 52.0 | 2 Q | 51.0 | 4 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Erik Wilén | 400 m hurdles | N/A | N/A | 58.4 | 2 Q | Unknown | 5 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Teodor Koskenniemi Heikki Liimatainen Paavo Nurmi | Cross country | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10 | |
| Athlete | Event | Qualifying | Qualifying | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Pekka Johansson | Javelin throw | 63.095 | 2 Q | 63.095 | |
| Hugo Lahtinen | Long jump | 6.19 | 19 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Eero Lehtonen | Long jump | 6.285 | 16 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jonni Myyrä | Discus throw | 37.00 | 12 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jonni Myyrä | Javelin throw | 60.63 | 3 Q | 65.78 OR | |
| Elmer Niklander | Shot put | 14.155 | 1 Q | 14.155 | |
| Elmer Niklander | Discus throw | 44.685 | 1 Q | 44.685 | |
| Elmer Niklander | 56 lb weight throw | 8.865 | 8 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Ossian Nylund | Triple jump | 13.74 | 7 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Urho Peltonen | Javelin throw | 63.605 OR | 1 Q | 63.605 | |
| Johan Pettersson | Hammer throw | 41.76 | 11 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Johan Pettersson | 56 lb weight throw | 9.375 | 6 Q | 9.375 | 6 |
| Ville Pörhölä | Shot put | 14.035 | 3 Q | 14.81 | |
| Ville Pörhölä | Discus throw | 38.19 | 8 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Ville Pörhölä | 56 lb weight throw | 8.85 | 9 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jussi Ruoho | Pole vault | 3.60 | 1 Q | 3.40 | 12 |
| Julius Saaristo | Javelin throw | 60.045 | 5 Q | 62.395 | 4 |
| Armas Taipale | Shot put | 12.945 | 10 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Armas Taipale | Discus throw | 44.19 | 2 Q | 44.19 | |
| Vilho Tuulos | Triple jump | 14.505 | 1 Q | 14.505 | |
| Athlete | Event | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Total | Rank |
| Pekka Johansson | Decathlon | did not finish | did not finish |
| Hugo Lahtinen | Pentathlon | 26 | |
| Hugo Lahtinen | Decathlon | did not finish | did not finish |
| Eero Lehtonen | Pentathlon | 14 | |
| Eero Lehtonen | Decathlon | did not finish | did not finish |
| Jonni Myyrä | Pentathlon | did not finish | did not finish |
| Ossian Nylund | Pentathlon | did not finish | did not finish |
| Valdemar Wickholm | Decathlon | 6405.460 | 6 |

## Equestrian

A single equestrian represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Wilkman competed in the eventing competition, placing 17th.
| Equestrian | Horse | Event | Final | Final |
| Equestrian | Horse | Event | Result | Rank |
| Oskar Wilkman | Meno | Eventing | 1282.50 | 17 |

## Modern pentathlon

Two pentathletes represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport.
A point-for-place system was used, with the lowest total score winning.
| Pentathlete | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Pentathlete | Riding | Fencing | Shooting | Swimming | Running | Total | Rank |
| Emil Alfons Hagelberg | 10 | 3 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 51 | 7 |
| Kalle Kainuvaara | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish | did not finish |

## Skating
### Figure skating

Three figure skaters represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. The Jakobssons, a married couple, won the pairs competition. Ilmanen placed fifth of nine in the men's singles.
| Skater | Event | Final | Final |
| Skater | Event | Result | Rank |
| Sakari Ilmanen | Men's singles | 30.0 | 5 |
| Ludowika Jakobsson Walter Jakobsson | Pairs | 7.0 | |

## Shooting

Nine shooters represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport as well as the Olympics. The Finns were looking to improve upon the pair of bronze medals they had won in 1912, which was the country's best result to date. They were successful, taking a silver medal in the team running deer single shots competition as well as another pair of bronzes in other team competitions.
| Shooter | Event | Final | Final |
| Shooter | Event | Result | Rank |
| Voitto Kolho | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | 974 | 7 |
| Yrjö Kolho | 100 m deer, single shots | 40 | 4 |
| Kalle Lappalainen | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | 945 | Unknown |
| Veli Nieminen | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | 934 | Unknown |
| Veli Nieminen | Trap | Unknown | Unknown |
| Toivo Tikkanen | 100 m deer, single shots | 40 | 5 |
| Vilho Vauhkonen | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | 966 | Unknown |
| Vilho Vauhkonen | 300 m military rifle, prone | 59 | 4 |
| Magnus Wegelius | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | 849 | Unknown |
| Magnus Wegelius | 300 m military rifle, standing | 51 | Unknown |
| Magnus Wegelius | 600 m military rifle, prone | 51 | Unknown |
| Voitto Kolho Yrjö Kolho Frans Nässling Toivo Tikkanen Nestor Toivonen | 50 m team free pistol | 2052 | 11 |
| Voitto Kolho Kalle Lappalainen Veli Nieminen Vilho Vauhkonen Magnus Wegelius | Team free rifle | 4668 | 4 |
| Voitto Kolho Kalle Lappalainen Veli Nieminen Vilho Vauhkonen Magnus Wegelius | 300 m team military rifle, prone | 281 | |
| Voitto Kolho Kalle Lappalainen Veli Nieminen Vilho Vauhkonen Magnus Wegelius | 600 m team military rifle, prone | 268 | 8 |
| Voitto Kolho Kalle Lappalainen Veli Nieminen Vilho Vauhkonen Magnus Wegelius | 300 & 600 m team military rifle, prone | 524 | 10 |
| Voitto Kolho Kalle Lappalainen Nestor Toivonen Vilho Vauhkonen Magnus Wegelius | 300 m team military rifle, standing | 235 | 7 |
| Yrjö Kolho Kalle Lappalainen Toivo Tikkanen Nestor Toivonen Magnus Wegelius | 100 m team deer, single shots | 159 | |
| Yrjö Kolho Toivo Tikkanen Nestor Toivonen Vilho Vauhkonen Magnus Wegelius | 100 m team deer, double shots | 285 | |

## Weightlifting

A single weightlifter represented Finland in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Ekström competed in the light heavyweight category, but did not finish the competition.
| Weightlifter | Event | Final | Final |
| Weightlifter | Event | Result | Rank |
| Rudolf Ekström | 82.5 kg | did not finish | did not finish |

## Wrestling

Eighteen wrestlers competed for Finland in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport as well as the Olympics. The Finland team was the most successful of any country, taking fully half of the gold medals as well as twice as many total medals as any other country. Twelve of the eighteen wrestlers won medals.
Nine of the ten Greco-Roman wrestlers won medals, including three gold medals. The Finns swept the top two places in two of the five events, won two medals in two other events, and took one medal in the fifth. The Finnish wrestlers won 84% of their matches, a percentage that rises to 89% when matches between two men from Finland are excluded.
The eight freestyle wrestlers were also successful, taking two of a possible five gold medals, but not to the extent of the Greco-Roman wrestlers. Only three of the eight took medals, and the winning percentage was a less-staggering though still respectable 70%.

### Freestyle

| Wrestler | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals / Bronze match | Rank |
| Kalle Anttila | Lightweight | N/A | Deligny (FRA) (W) | Shimmon (USA) (W) | Thys (BEL) (W) | Svensson (SWE) (W) | |
| Johan Gallén | Light heavyweight | N/A | Roosen (BEL) (W) | Larsson (SWE) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Eino Leino | Middleweight | Bye | Bron (SUI) (W) | Janssens (BEL) (W) | Johnson (USA) (W) | Penttala (FIN) (W) | |
| Kaarlo Mäkinen | Featherweight | N/A | Gerson (USA) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 9 |
| Sven Mattsson | Heavyweight | N/A | N/A | Pendleton (USA) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Väinö Penttala | Middleweight | Backsman (FRA) (W) | Bacon (GBR) (W) | Derkinderen (BEL) (W) | Frantz (USA) (W) | Leino (FIN) (L) | |
| Jussi Salila | Heavyweight | N/A | N/A | Roth (SUI) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Emil Westerlund | Light heavyweight | N/A | Rhys (GBR) (W) | Maurer (USA) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Belgium | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| France | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Great Britain | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Sweden | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| United States | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| Total international | 13 | 5 | .722 |
| Finland | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Total | 14 | 6 | .700 |
| Round | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Round of 32 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Round of 16 | 5 | 1 | .857 |
| Quarterfinals | 3 | 4 | .429 |
| Semifinals | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Final | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| Bronze match | 0 | 0 | – |
| Total | 14 | 6 | .700 |

### Greco-Roman

| Wrestler | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | Rank |
| Wrestler | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Silver quarters | Silver semis | Silver match | Rank |
| Wrestler | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Bronze quarters | Bronze semis | Bronze match | Rank |
| Oskari Friman | Featherweight | Bye | Gallery (USA) (W) | Svensson (SWE) (W) | Boumans (BEL) (W) | Kähkönen (FIN) (W) | |
| Oskari Friman | Featherweight | Bye | Gallery (USA) (W) | N/A | Won gold | Won gold | | |
| Heikki Kähkönen | Featherweight | Bye | Brian (USA) (W) | Torgensen (DEN) (W) | Pütsep (EST) (W) | Friman (FIN) (L) | |
| Heikki Kähkönen | Featherweight | Bye | Brian (USA) (W) | N/A | Svensson (SWE) (W) | Boumans (BEL) (W) | |
| Adolf Lindfors | Heavyweight | Gasiglia (FRA) (W) | Willkie (USA) (W) | Dame (FRA) (W) | Hansen (DEN) (W) | Ahlgren (SWE) (W) | |
| Arthur Lindfors | Middleweight | Christensen (DEN) (W) | Johnsen (NOR) (W) | Balej (TCH) (W) | Szymanski (USA) (W) | Westergren (SWE) (L) | |
| Arthur Lindfors | Middleweight | Christensen (DEN) (W) | Johnsen (NOR) (W) | Bye | Eillebrecht (NED) (W) | Perttilä (FIN) (W) | |
| Martin Nieminen | Heavyweight | Bye | Larsen (DEN) (W) | Hansen (DEN) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | |
| Martin Nieminen | Heavyweight | Bye | Larsen (DEN) (W) | Bye | Willkie (USA) (W) | Weyand (USA) (W) | |
| Matti Perttilä | Middleweight | Cornelis (BEL) (W) | Nielsen (DEN) (W) | Fältström (SWE) (W) | Westergren (SWE) (L) | Did not advance | |
| Matti Perttilä | Middleweight | Cornelis (BEL) (W) | Nielsen (DEN) (W) | Bye | Vanderleenden (BEL) (W) | Lindfors (FIN) (L) | |
| Matti Perttilä | Middleweight | Cornelis (BEL) (W) | Nielsen (DEN) (W) | Bye | Eillebrecht (NED) (W) | Johnsen (NOR) (W) | |
| Anders Rajala | Light heavyweight | Bye | Tázler (TCH) (W) | Wahlem (BEL) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | 7 |
| Anders Rajala | Light heavyweight | Bye | Tázler (TCH) (W) | N/A | did not advance | did not advance | | 7 |
| 7 |||
| Edil Rosenqvist | Light heavyweight | Bye | Johansson (SWE) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | |
| Edil Rosenqvist | Light heavyweight | Bye | Johansson (SWE) (L) | N/A | Tetens (DEN) (W) | Eriksen (DEN) (W) | |
| Taavi Tamminen | Lightweight | Bye | Kopřiva (TCH) (W) | Frydenlund (NOR) (W) | Andersen (NOR) (W) | Väre (FIN) (W) | |
| Taavi Tamminen | Lightweight | Bye | Kopřiva (TCH) (W) | Bye | Janssens (BEL) (W) | Frisenfeldt (DEN) (W) | |
| Emil Väre | Lightweight | Christiansen (DEN) (W) | Rohon (FRA) (W) | Janssens (BEL) (W) | Frisenfeldt (DEN) (W) | Tamminen (FIN) (W) | |
| Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Belgium | 6 | 1 | .857 |
| Czechoslovakia | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Denmark | 10 | 1 | .909 |
| Estonia | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| France | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Norway | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Sweden | 4 | 3 | .571 |
| United States | 6 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Total international | 39 | 5 | .886 |
| Finland | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| Total | 42 | 8 | .840 |
| Round | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Round of 32 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Round of 16 | 9 | 1 | .900 |
| Quarterfinals | 7 | 2 | .778 |
| Semifinals | 6 | 1 | .857 |
| Final | 3 | 3 | .500 |
| Silver quarterfinals | 0 | 0 | – |
| Silver semifinals | 5 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Silver match | 4 | 1 | .800 |
| Bronze quarterfinals | 0 | 0 | – |
| Bronze semifinals | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Bronze match | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Total | 42 | 8 | .840 |