Sylvi Saimo
Finnish sprint canoeist (1914–2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sylvi Riitta Saimo (née Sikiö, 12 November 1914 – 12 March 2004) was a Finnish sprint canoeist and politician. She was the first female Finnish Olympic Champion at the Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal in K-1 500 m at the 1952 Summer Olympics. She also competed in cross-country skiing, athletics and orienteering. She was a member of the Finnish Parliament from 1966 to 1978.
Saimo at the 1952 Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 12 November 1914 Jaakkima, Finland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 12 March 2004 (aged 89) Laukaa, Finland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 59–62 kg (130–137 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Canoe sprint | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Personal life
Saimo was born in the former Finnish municipality of Jaakkima (currently Lakhdenpokhsky District, Russia) on 12 November 1914. She died in Laukaa in 2004.[1]
Sports career
Saimo competed in several sports, including skiing, athletics, orienteering and canoeing.[1] She won a gold medal in the K-1 500 m event at the 1952 Summer Olympics and finished sixth in 1948.[2] That was first and only gold medal by Finnish woman at Summer Olympics,[1] until Heli Rantanen won the javelin throw contest in 1996.
Saimo also won two gold medals at the 1950 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Copenhagen, earning them in the K-1 500 m and K-2 500 m events (in K-2, jointly with Greta Grönholm).[1]
Other sports achievements include winning a bronze medal at the Finnish championship in orienteering in 1939. In cross-country skiing, she won a bronze medal in the relay at the Finnish championships in 1947, while placing 5th individually in the 10 km distance.[1]
Political career
Saimo was elected representative to the Finnish Parliament for the Centre Party from 1966 to 1978.[1][3]
