| Elmer Niklander | |
| Fullname: | Elmer Konstantin Niklander |
| Nickname: | Elmeri, Niku, Oitin kanuuna |
| National Team: | Finland |
| Monuments: | statue Oitin kanuuna Elmer Niklander by Evert Porila in 1917 |
| Birth Date: | 1890 1, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Hausjärvi, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire |
| Death Place: | Helsinki, Finland |
| Occupation: | farmer |
| Height: | 1.85m (06.07feet) |
| Weight: | 79kg (174lb) |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Nationals: | 44 Finnish championships in throwing events in 1909–1924 |
| Show-Medals: | no |
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.
Niklander started training at the age of 12 and competing at 17. He trained mostly on his brother's farm.[1]
He excelled in two-handed throwing events.
| Games | Event | Rank | Result | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 Summer Olympics | Men's Greek discus throw | 9th | 32.46 m | Source:[2] | |
| Men's shot put | 9th–25th | unknown | Result was not officially recorded.[3] Result was circa 11 metres.[4] 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).[5] | ||
| Men's discus throw | 12th–42nd | unknown | Result was not officially recorded.[6] Result was circa 36 metres. | ||
| 1912 Summer Olympics | Men's shot put | 4th | 13.65 m | ||
| 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. | ||
| Men's two handed shot put | style=background-color:#cc9966 | 3rd | 27.14 m | ||
| Men's two handed discus throw | style=background-color:silver | 2nd | 77.96 m | ||
| 1920 Summer Olympics | Men's shot put | style=background-color:silver | 2nd | 14.155 m | |
| Men's discus throw | style=background-color:gold | 1st | 44.685 m | ||
| 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.[7] | |
| Men's discus throw | 7th | 42.09 m |
In 1924, he served as the Olympic flag bearer for Finland.[8]
Niklander won 44 titles at the Finnish Championships in Athletics in throwing events in 1909–1924, a national record in itself. Summary:
He also won 12 silvers and 1 bronze.
Niklander broke a world record once:
He also broke two world records unofficially:
Neither result was ratified as a record because the dimensions of the throwing circle weren't up to the international standard.[10]
He broke several Finnish national records:
Personal bests per event:
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).[14] His younger brother Siivo (1883–1961) made two Finnish national records in shot put in 1907.[15]
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.[16]
Niklander died of stomach cancer on 12 November 1942.[17]