Finland at the 1960 Summer Paralympics
Encyclopedia
Finland
competed at the inaugural Summer Paralympic Games in 1960
in Rome
. Like Rhodesia
and Ireland, it sent only one competitor: swimmer Tauno Valkama. He entered a single event, the 50m crawl (class 4), and won gold - giving his country a perfect success rate for its first Paralympics.
Just like all other events at the 1960 Paralympics, swimming races were held with no more than three swimmers per event, thereby guaranteeing a medal to every swimmer completing his or her race. In his sole event, Valkama competed against two Americans
: R. Maduro and Hall (full names not recorded).
Valkama was a clear winner, completing the race in exactly 51 seconds, making Finland's only medal at the 1960 Games a gold. Maduro finished in 57.7s, beating his compatriot for silver; Hall swam the race in 59.8s, for bronze.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
competed at the inaugural Summer Paralympic Games in 1960
1960 Summer Paralympics
The 1960 Summer Paralympics, originally known as the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, were the first international Paralympic Games, following on from the Stoke Mandeville Games of 1948 and 1952. They were organised under the aegis of the International Stoke Mandeville Games...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Like Rhodesia
Rhodesia at the 1960 Summer Paralympics
Rhodesia competed at the inaugural Summer Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome. It was the only African country to take part. Rhodesia fielded the joint smallest delegation. Like Finland and Ireland, it sent only one competitor: Margaret Harriman, who competed in archery and swimming.Harriman won a...
and Ireland, it sent only one competitor: swimmer Tauno Valkama. He entered a single event, the 50m crawl (class 4), and won gold - giving his country a perfect success rate for its first Paralympics.
Medallists
| Medal | Name | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tauno Valkama | Swimming Swimming at the 1960 Summer Paralympics Swimming at the 1960 Summer Paralympics consisted of 62 events, 32 for men and 30 for women.There were between one and three competitors for each race, meaning that every swimmer completing a race was guaranteed a medal. All swimmers successfully completed their races, and every swimmer at the... |
Men's 50 metre crawl complete class 4 |
Swimming
Just like all other events at the 1960 Paralympics, swimming races were held with no more than three swimmers per event, thereby guaranteeing a medal to every swimmer completing his or her race. In his sole event, Valkama competed against two AmericansUnited States at the 1960 Summer Paralympics
The United States competed at the 1960 Summer Paralympics in Rome, Italy.- Medalists :...
: R. Maduro and Hall (full names not recorded).
Valkama was a clear winner, completing the race in exactly 51 seconds, making Finland's only medal at the 1960 Games a gold. Maduro finished in 57.7s, beating his compatriot for silver; Hall swam the race in 59.8s, for bronze.