Toivo SALONEN

Toivo Salonen was the best Finnish skater of the 1950s. He made his international début at the 1952 Winter Olympics, where he was eighth in the 500 and 25th in the 1,500. In 1953 Salonen won the 500 at both the World and European Championships, but his weak performance in the longer distances kept him from finishing high up in the all-around. He would win two more distance titles at the World All-around Championships (500 in 1955; 1,500 in 1959) and one distance title at the European All-around Championships (500 in 1959), but his best places in all-around at the World and European All-around Championships would be second and third respectively, both in 1959. Salonen competed at four Winter Olympics, but he won his only Olympic medal – a bronze in the 1,500 – in 1956 and with that feat he is the last Finnish male skater (through 2006) to win an Olympic medal. At the Finnish Championships, Salonen won the all-around title six times (1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961), was second three times (1953, 1955, 1962) and won bronze twice (1963, 1964).

Personal Bests: 500 – 40.9 (1960); 1500 – 2:09.4 (1956); 5000 – 8:10.2 (1964); 10000 – 17:04.2 (1963).