Eeles Landström

Eeles Enok Landström (3 January 1932 – 29 June 2022) was a Finnish pole vaulter, a member of the Finnish parliament, and a business executive. He won two European titles, in 1954 and 1958, and competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1960 and finishing seventh in 1956. Landström also placed 14th in the decathlon at the 1952 games and was selected as the Olympic flag bearer for Finland in 1956 and 1960.[1][3][4]

Eeles Landström
Personal information
Born3 January 1932 (1932-01-03)
Viiala, Finland
Died29 June 2022(2022-06-29) (aged 90)
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight80–82 kg (176–181 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Pole vault, decathlon
ClubRosenlewin Urheilijat-38
Michigan Wolverines
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)PV – 4.57 m (1958)
Decathlon – 6123 (1952)[1][2]
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1960 Rome Pole vault
European Championships
Gold medal – first place Bern 1954 Pole vault
Gold medal – first place Stockholm 1958 Pole vault

Biography

Landström was born in Viiala on 3 January 1932.[5] Landström studied in the United States at the University of Michigan and graduated as Bachelor of Science in 1959. He was a two-time Big Ten champion in pole vaulting while at Michigan, in 1956 and 1959.[6] In 1961 he became the first Finnish participant at the Olympic Academy arranged by the International Olympic Committee in Athens.

Landström was a member of the Finnish parliament from 1966 to 1971 and worked also in executive positions, for example as Assistant Director of Finance in the Finnish Broadcasting Company in 1976–1981 and as a member of the Administrative Council of the Finnish Broadcasting Company in 1967 to 1976. He was granted the Finnish honorary title of sosiaalineuvos in 2008.[7]

Landström participated in the International Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as a board member of Finland’s group and as a representative of Finland in the European Broadcasting Union, nominated by the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Landström has written two youth novels (1966,[8] 1974) and a biography (2002).[7] His first novel was awarded as the best Finnish youth novel in 1966.[9]

Landström died on 29 June 2022 at the age of 90.[4]

Achievements in pole vaulting

Landström participated in 30 international competitions, winning 25 of them in a row. His best achievements were European gold medals in 1954 and 1958, the only medals Finland won in these competitions. He also won eight consecutive Finnish titles in 1953–1960 and improved the Finnish record 13 times in 1954–1958. He improved the European record three times in 1955–1956 and set an Australian record in 1956. In 1961, he won the Nordic Championship. In 2008 Landström received the Finnish Pro Urheilu award for his athletic achievements.[10]

Television and theater

A television documentary was made on Landström and his life in 1997, directed by Ville-Veikko Salminen. He was also the center figure in a play, which was written and directed by Jorma Kairimo. The premiere of the play ”Eeles – kohti päämäärää” (Eeles – towards the goal) took place in Akaa, Finland, in September 2008.[11]

References
  1. Eeles Landström Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  2. Eeles Landström. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. Finland. sports-reference.com
  4. "Seiväshypyn olympiamitalisti ja entinen kansanedustaja Eeles Landström on kuollut". Finnish News Agency (in Finnish). 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022 – via Helsingin Sanomat.
  5. OlyMADMen. "Eeles Landström". Olympedia. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. Michigan the Olympics. bentley.umich.edu
  7. Eeles Landström Elämäni Otekorkeuksia (hyväntekeväisyyskirja). elisa.fi
  8. KOHTI PÄÄMÄÄRÄÄ, kirjaesittely. kirjaseuranta.fi
  9. Kirjaesittelyt. landstrom.info
  10. Ministeri Wallin jakoi Pro Urheilu -tunnustukset tiedote / pressmeddelande. minedu.fi (3 December 2008)
  11. Kairimo, Jorma. kirjasampo.fi
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