Ale Riipinen

Heikki Aleksi "Ale" Riipinen (28 May 1883 – 13 February 1957) was a Finnish gymnast who won bronze in the 1908 Summer Olympics.[1]

Ale Riipinen
Personal information
Full nameHeikki Aleksi Riipinen
Nickname(s)Ale
National teamFinland
Born(1883-05-28)May 28, 1883
Laukaa, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
DiedFebruary 13, 1957(1957-02-13) (aged 73)
Espoo, Finland
OccupationPhysical education teacher, lecturer, school inspector
Spouse(s)Hilja Riipinen
Sport
SportGymnastics
Club
  • Ylioppilasvoimistelijat
  • Lapuan Virkiä
  • Jyväskylän Seminaarin Jyskyt
Medal record
Men's Gymnastics
Bronze medal – third place1908 London Gymnastics team

Gymnastics
Ale Riipinen at the Olympic Games
Games Event Rank Notes
1908 Summer Olympics Men's team 3rd Source:[2]

He won the Finnish national championship in team gymnastics as a member of Ylioppilasvoimistelijat in 1909.[3]

Career

He completed his matriculation exam at the Jyväskylä Classical Lyceum in 1903 and graduated as a physical education teacher in 1908.[4]

He worked as a school teacher in Lapua in 1908–1927, becoming also a rector. Then he worked as a lecturer in Jyväskylä in 1927–1948. Finally he returned to Lapua to teach until 1951.[4]

He also wrote on physical education and other subjects in Suomen Urheilulehti and other papers.[4]

He was the chairman of the state taxation board in Lapua in 1923–1927.[4]

Military

He served in the White Guard as a platoon leader and a company commander during the Finnish Civil War. He was a garrison commandant in the Finnish Defence Forces and a chief of office of a White Guard district during the Second World War. He reached the rank of lieutenant.[4]

Politics

He played a small part in initiating the namesake action of the Lapua Movement, although it is unknown, if he actually participated it.[5]

Accolades

He received the following honorary awards:

  • Cross of Liberty, 4th Class
  • The cross of merit of the Civil Guards
  • Medals of the Finnish Civil War:
    • The commemorative medal of the capture of Tampere
    • The Vilppula cross
  • Decorations of the heimosodat:
    • The commemorative medal of Carelia

He is also an honorary member of several clubs and associations.[4]

Family

His parents were farmer Mikko Riipinen and Iida Manninen.[4]

He married Hilja Miklin-Metsäpolku in 1911.[6] They had two children:[4]

  1. Heljä Kaarina, born 1912,[7] died 1926[8]
  2. Anna Pirkko Sätene, born 1920,[9] died 1964[10]

He died from a heart attack in Espoo while visiting his daughter.[11]

References
  1. "Ale Riipinen". Olympedia. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  2. Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian (2001). The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, With Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States: McFarland. pp. 185. ISBN 978-0-7864-0598-5.
  3. Siukonen, Markku (2001). Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000. Suuri olympiateos (in Finnish). Vol. 12. Jyväskylä: Graface. p. 252. ISBN 951-98673-1-7.
  4. Suomen voimistelunopettajat 1883–1959. Finlands gymnastiklärare 1883–1959 (in Finnish and Swedish). Helsinki: Suomen voimistelunopettajaliitto. 1959. p. 191.
  5. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 128. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
  6. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 47. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
  7. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 49. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
  8. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. pp. 102–105. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
  9. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 70. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
  10. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. pp. 242–243. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
  11. Sulamaa, Kaarle (1995). Hilja Riipinen. Lapuan lotta (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 239. ISBN 951-1-13497-3.
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