Veikko Hakulinen, in full Veikko Johannes Hakulinen, (born Dec. 14, 1925, Finland—died Oct. 24, 2003, Valkeakoski), Finnish cross-country skier who earned seven Olympic medals in three Olympic competitions between 1952 and 1960. He additionally received world championships within the 15-km occasion in 1954 and 1958.
A woodchopper by commerce, Hakulinen proved to be a flexible skier in any respect distances. His first medal was earned on the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway, when he received the gold within the 50-km race by the spectacular margin of practically 5 minutes. His second particular person gold medal was awarded within the 30-km race on the 1956 Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Silver medals within the 50-km race (1956 and 1960) and a bronze within the 15-km race on the 1960 Games stuffed out his particular person awards.
Excitement got here when Hakulinen anchored Finland’s 4×10-km relay group on the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, California, U.S. The groups from Norway and Finland have been tied midway by the race, and Norway finally took a big 20-second lead. Hakulinen overtook Norway’s Håkon Brusveen twice within the final 10 km, finally profitable by a scant 0.8 second and securing the gold medal for Finland. Hakulinen was additionally the anchor for the relay group that took the silver medal in 1956.