Veikko Hakulinen

Veikko Hakulinen won seven medals (three gold, three silver, one bronze) in cross-country skiing at four Olympic Winter Games. His first gold came at the 1952 Olympics in the 50 km, the second at the 1956 Olympics over 30 km, and the last at the 1960 Olympics in the relay. His 1952 50 km victory with a time of 3-33:33 made sporting history. Hakulinen competed at the Winter Olympics for a fourth time in 1964 in the biathlon, having previously won a World Championship 20 km team silver at his new sport in 1963. He also won three World Cross-country Championships, in 1954 and 1958 in the 15 km, and the relay in 1954, in addition to winning three silvers and one bronze at the World Championships. Hakulinen won the Lahti Ski Games four times and was a nine-time Finnish champion in cross-country skiing, four times in individual races and five times in the relay. A great all-around athlete, Hakulinen also competed at Finnish Championships in biathlon, orienteering, ski orienteering, cross-country running, and rowing. Hakulinen was the outstanding Nordic skier of his generation, and he continued competing well into his sixties, by which time he had become quite proficient at ski orienteering. By profession Hakulinen was a sergeant in the Finnish Army and also later worked as a forester. Hakulinen died when he was hit by a car while he was jogging on the side of a road in Valkeakoski.