Finnish diver and later architect Ilmari Niemeläinen took part in the 1936 and the 1948 Olympics at Berlin and London as a diver, but never reached a final in his competitions. He finished 13th from the springboard in 1936, and 14th from the platform. After World War II he came in 19th from the platform. Niemeläinen is one of the few artists who also competed at the Olympics in a sport and was, along with Walter Winans, the only Olympian to participate in the same games both as an athlete and as an artist. As an architect he earned the bronze medal with his work Model for “The Athletic Centre in Kemi” at the London Games in the category Architecture, Designs For Town Planning.
Niemeläinen graduated in Helsinki in 1939 and opened his own office immediately after World War II. He mainly designed swimming pools and sports centers. However, the reason for creating the Kemin urheilukeskus is unclear. The implementation of the draft, however, was not prevented by the city authorities, but by the then scarcity of concrete prevented it being built. After 1948 parts of the plan were implemented; but not Niemeläinen’s overall concept. The planned building contained areas for boxing and wrestling, shooting and bowling, a sports hall, and a swimming pool. Outdoors, a swimming pool and tennis courts were located next to the stadium. Niemeläinen eventually died of cancer at just 40 years of age.
Finland