Veikko Hakulinen

Hakulinen in 1959
Personal information
Full name	Veikko Johannes Hakulinen
Born	4 January 1925 Kurkijoki, Finland
Died	24 October 2003 (aged 78) Valkeakoski, Finland
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	66 kg (146 lb)
Sport
Sport	Cross-country skiing, biathlon
Club	Asikkalan Raikas Valkeakosken Haka Jämsänkosken Ilves Evon Metsäpojat Tampereen Hiihtoseura Tampereen Pyrintö Tampereen Maila.
Medal record Representing  Finland Men's cross-country skiing Olympic Games 1952 Oslo 50 km 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 30 km 1960 Squaw Valley 4 × 10 km relay 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 50 km 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 4 × 10 km relay 1960 Squaw Valley 50 km 1960 Squaw Valley 15 km World Championships 1954 Falun 15 km 1954 Falun 4 × 10 km relay 1958 Lahti 15 km 1954 Falun 30 km 1954 Falun 50 km 1958 Lahti 50 km 1958 Lahti 4 × 10 km relay Men's biathlon World Championships 1963 Seefeld 20 km team

Veikko Johannes Hakulinen (4 January 1925 – 24 October 2003) was a Finnish cross-country skier, triple champion in both the Olympics and World Championships. He also competed in biathlon, orienteering, ski-orienteering, cross-country running, and rowing at a national level.^[1]

Biography

Hakulinen won the 50 km event at the 1952 Winter Olympics with a memorable time of 3:33.33. Finland also won the 4 × 10 km relay, but Hakulinen was not on the team. Hakulinen was part of the Finland's winning relay team in the 1960 Winter Olympics, and won the 30 km gold in the 1956 Olympics. At his fourth games in 1964 he served as the Finnish Olympic flag bearer and competed only in biathlon.^[1][2]

In Finland, Hakulinen was chosen as sports personality of the year in 1952–1954 and 1960. He was decorated with the Pro Urheilu letter of recognition 2000.

Hakulinen also won the 50 km at the Holmenkollen ski festival twice (1953 and 1955), the 18 km (1953) and the 15 km (1957). For his efforts in cross-country skiing, Hakulinen was awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1955 (shared with King Haakon VII, Hallgeir Brenden, and Sverre Stenersen).

Hakulinen was a forester by profession and held the rank of sergeant in the Finnish Army. He died in Valkeakoski in a car accident on 24 October 2003.^[1][3]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).^[4]

Olympic Games

• 7 medals – (3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)

World Championships

• 7 medals – (3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)

Biathlon results

• World championships, Seefeld 1963 – silver (team competition), sixth (20 km)
• Olympics, Innsbruck 1964 – 15th (20 km)
• World championships, Elverum 1965 – fifth (team competition), 31st (20 km)