Kalevi Kotkas

During the 1930s Kalevi Kotkas was one of the best all-round track and field athletes in Finland, winning medals in the high jump, discus throw, and shot put. At the Finnish national championships Kotkas won six consecutive titles in the discus (1933–38) and five consecutive titles in the high jump (1934–38). He also narrowly missed out on becoming the national shot put champion when he won silver in 1934. At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics he finished seventh in the discus with a best effort of 45.87 metres.

Kotkas won his first major international title with gold in the high jump at the 1934 European Championships in Torino, with him being the only athlete to clear two metres. At the same Games he also managed to finish tenth in the discus throw. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics he just missed out on a medal in the high jump when he came fourth following a jump-off for the silver and bronze. Once again he also competed in the discus at the Olympics, but did not advance from the qualifying round. Kotkas made his final appearance at a major international competition when he competed at the 1938 European Championships in Paris. He won silver in the high jump and finished fourth in the discus throw, and 11th in the shot put. His nephew Erkki Mustakari competed in the pole vault at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Personal Bests: HJ – 2.04 (1936); DT – 51.27 (1937).