Finland at the 1960 Summer Paralympics
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.[1]
Finland at the 1960 Summer Paralympics | |
---|---|
IPC code | FIN |
NPC | Finnish Paralympic Committee |
Website | www |
in Rome | |
Competitors | 1 in 1 sport |
Medals Ranked 15th |
|
Summer Paralympics appearances | |
Medallists
Medal | Name | Sport | Event |
---|---|---|---|
Gold | Tauno Valkama | Swimming | 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 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.[1]
See also
References
- Finland at the 1960 Summer Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee