Hugo Olavi NISKANEN

Hugo Niskanen took up athletics with Outokummun Partio in 1938, but his athletics career was interrupted by World War II. After serving with the Finnish Army during the War, he returned to athletics in 1945, by winning the 5,000 metres at the North Karelian district championships. Between 1945 and 1956, Niskanen won a total of 27 district titles at distances between 1,500 and 10K. At the Finnish Championships, he first medaled in 1948, winning a silver in the 10,000 and won his only Finnish title in 1951 in the 10K. He also won 10,000 metre silvers at the Finnish Championships in 1952 and 1954, 10,000 m bronze in 1955, and 5,000 bronzes in 1951 and 1953. Niskanen also competed at the 1952 Olympics, but finished a distant 19th in the 10K. During and after his sporting career, Niskanen was a construction worker and maintenance man.

Personal Best: 10000 – 30:28.0 (1952).