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.

9th–25th

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).

12th–42nd

Result was not officially recorded. Result was circa 36 metres.

7th

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. 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 15 August 1910, hammer throw, 40.04 m 19 July 1913, two-handed shot put, 27.75 m 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.

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