Elmer Niklander

1.1. Early Life and Family

Elmer Konstantin Niklander was born on 19 January 1890 in the village of Rutajärvi in Hausjärvi, Finland. His father was Konstantin Niklander (1848-1903) and his mother was Henriika née Harjula (1858-1942). His younger brother, Siivo Niklander (1883-1961), also had a noteworthy athletic career, setting two Finnish national records in the shot put in 1907. Elmer began his athletic training at the age of 12 and started competing by 17, primarily practicing on his brother's farm.

1.2. Involvement in the Finnish Civil War

During the tumultuous period leading up to the Finnish Civil War, Niklander joined the White Guard in Hausjärvi. In November 1917, he participated in the Mommila skirmish, a significant engagement in the early stages of the conflict. Due to his involvement with the White Guard, the opposing Red Guard sentenced him to death. As the civil war intensified, Niklander was forced to go into hiding to evade capture and execution. This personal hardship interrupted his athletic career, but he later returned to competition.

1.3. Later Life and Death

After his main athletic career concluded in the mid-1920s, Elmer Konstantin Niklander continued his life away from the competitive arena. He passed away on 12 November 1942, at the age of 52. The cause of his death was stomach cancer.

2.1. Olympic Games

Niklander competed in four Summer Olympics, earning four medals across three different Games. His Olympic journey began at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where he competed in the men's Greek discus throw, finishing 9th with a throw of 106 ft ^{(32.46 m)}. He also competed in the men's shot put and men's discus throw, though his official results for these events were not recorded. His shot put result was estimated to be around 36 ft ^{(11 m)}, and his discus throw around 118 ft ^{(36 m)}. At just 18 years and 179 days old, he holds the distinction of being the youngest competitor in Olympic men's shot put history with a known birthdate.

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Niklander earned his first Olympic medals. He placed 4th in both the men's shot put with 45 ft ^{(13.65 m)} and the men's discus throw with 138 ft ^{(42.09 m)}. His first-round discus throw temporarily broke the Olympic record before being surpassed in the second round. He secured a silver medal in the men's two-handed discus throw with a combined distance of 256 ft ^{(77.96 m)} and a bronze medal in the men's two-handed shot put with 89 ft ^{(27.14 m)}.

After a career interruption due to World War I and the Finnish Civil War, Niklander made a triumphant return at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He won a gold medal in the men's discus throw with a throw of 147 ft ^{(44.685 m)} and a silver medal in the men's shot put with 46 ft ^{(14.155 m)}. He also competed in the men's 56-pound weight throw, finishing 8th with 29 ft ^{(8.865 m)}.

His final Olympic appearance was at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he served as the flag bearer for Finland during the opening ceremony. He placed 6th in the men's shot put with 47 ft ^{(14.265 m)}, making it his fourth appearance in the event and tying the record for most appearances in Olympic men's shot put. He finished 7th in the men's discus throw with 138 ft ^{(42.09 m)}.

Below is a summary of his Olympic results:

2.2. National Championships

Between 1909 and 1924, Elmer Konstantin Niklander achieved an unparalleled level of dominance at the Finnish Championships in Athletics, winning a record 44 national titles in various throwing events. In addition to his gold medals, he also earned 12 silver medals and 1 bronze medal at these championships.

His national titles by event include:

• Two-handed discus throw: 11 titles (1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920)
• Two-handed shot put: 11 titles (1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1924)
• Shot put (better hand only): 7 titles (1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1924)
• Hammer throw: 6 titles (1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918)
• Discus throw (better hand only): 5 titles (1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918)
• Greek discus throw: 2 titles (1912, 1913)
• Weight throw: 2 titles (1914, 1918)

2.3. Records and Personal Bests

Elmer Konstantin Niklander set one official world record during his career:

• On 20 July 1913, he achieved a world record in the two-handed discus throw with a distance of 296 ft ^{(90.13 m)}. This record remains unsurpassed.

He also unofficially broke two world records, though they were not ratified due to the throwing circle dimensions not meeting international standards at the time:

• In 1909, he threw 88 ft ^{(26.89 m)} in the two-handed shot put.
• In 1910, he threw 286 ft ^{(87.12 m)} in the two-handed discus throw.

Niklander established several Finnish national records throughout his career:

• Shot put: 44 ft ^{(13.47 m)} (25 October 1907), 48 ft ^{(14.68 m)} (4 July 1909)
• Discus throw: 147 ft ^{(44.88 m)} (19 June 1910)
• Hammer throw: 131 ft ^{(40.04 m)} (15 August 1910), 151 ft ^{(45.95 m)} (7 June 1914), 155 ft ^{(47.18 m)} (4 July 1915), 156 ft ^{(47.57 m)} (12 June 1916)
• Two-handed shot put: 91 ft ^{(27.75 m)} (19 July 1913)
• Weight throw: 35 ft ^{(10.76 m)} (1914)

His personal best performances in various events are as follows:

• Shot put: 49 ft ^{(14.86 m)} (19 July 1913)
• Two-handed shot put: 91 ft ^{(27.75 m)} (19 July 1913)
• Discus throw: 155 ft ^{(47.18 m)} (16 July 1916)
• Two-handed discus throw: 296 ft ^{(90.13 m)} (20 July 1913)
• Hammer throw: 156 ft ^{(47.57 m)} (12 June 1916)
• Javelin throw: 178 ft ^{(54.19 m)} (12 June 1916)
• Weight throw: 35 ft ^{(10.76 m)} (1914)