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Finland-Sweden Athletics International

(Redirected from Finnkampen)

Finnkampen (Swedish, literally The Finn Battle), Suomi-Ruotsi-maaottelu (literally The Finland-Sweden match) or Ruotsi-ottelu (Sverigekampen, literally The Sweden Battle), is a yearly international athletics competition held between Sweden and Finland since 1925.

Finland-Sweden athletics international
SportAthletics
First season1925
No. of teams2
CountriesFinland Finland
Sweden Sweden
Germany Germany (1940 only)
Most recent
champion(s)		Men: Sweden
Women: Sweden
Most titlesMen: Finland (46)
Women: Sweden (42)
Official websitewww.ruotsiottelu.fi (in Finnish)
www.finnkampen.se (in Swedish)

It is (since the late 1980s) the only annual athletics international with only two participating countries still held at a professional level. The two-day event attracts significant audiences, with a combined total of over 50,000 tickets sold for the 2011 competition.[1] Three-time heptathlon world champion Carolina Klüft made her final international appearance for Sweden at the meeting in 2012.[2]

Competition edit

 
2013 Finland-Sweden international in Stockholm

The competition is actually divided into two internationals, one for men and one for women. Youth competitions for men and women are also held. Each country provides their three best participants in each of the events, except for the relays where there are four participants (one team) from each country. Traditionally, the competitions have been arranged alternatively, with Finland hosting in even years and Sweden in odd years. This has changed few times in recent years, seeing one country arranging the international twice in a row a few times. The reasons for this include stadium renovations and major international competitions. Points are given to all contestants completing their event (no points are given to athletes who are disqualified, do not finish the event or don't get the result in field competitions), based on the final position in every event. Points given in each event are, from 1st to 6th place: 7-5-4-3-2-1, and in relays 1st and 2nd place are awarded with 5 and 2 points.

The competition may not be a world class one looking at the results, no single world record has been set, but there are few competitions in the world that are fiercer and more prestigious. This is most often seen in the middle-distance running, where tactics are more important than time, and these events have seen many foul tricks during the years, in 1992 resulting in the disqualification of all six runners in the men's 1500 metres event.

Another important aspect of the event is that it is a team competition. A competitor who manages to reach fourth place instead of a projected sixth place can be just as important, or even more important, for the result as a "star" that secures the expected first place. A fight to the finish between competitor number five and six, half a lap behind the winner, can be just as important as the actual winner. The race is not over until the last competitor crosses the line. For many of the competitors the international is the most prestigious competition of the year.

The events in Finland have always been held in Helsinki, after 1939 at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, but 2016 and 2018 events took place at Ratina Stadium in Tampere due to renovation of the Olympic Stadium. The Swedish events have mostly been held in Stockholm at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium. From 1999 until 2012 they were held in Gothenburg at the Ullevi Stadium because of larger spectator capacity.

Events edit

 
5000 metres in 2019

History edit

 
1500 meters in 1939
 
Athletics game Finland-Sweden-Germany 7.9.1940 in Helsinki, spectators from left: Urho Kekkonen, Field Marshal Mannerheim, Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, President of Finland Risto Ryti and Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten of Germany

Finnkampen was held for the first time in Helsinki in 1925, with one of the participants being the five-time Olympic champion in the 1924 Summer Olympics, Paavo Nurmi. Competitions were held in 1927, 1929 and 1931. After a pause of eight years the next competition was held in 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, which led to the cancellation of the competition between 1941 and 1944. The 1940 competition was held as a triple event between Finland, Sweden and Germany, with only two athletes from each country competing in each event. The international has been continually held for men since 1945 and for women since 1964, although the first women's competition was held already in 1953.

1931 breakup edit

The first competitions were very much influenced by the love-hate relationship between Sweden and Finland. The 1931 event was a victory for Finland, but tensions at the track led to a knuckle fight between the runners-up in the 800 metres race.

At the banquet after the games, the new chairman of the Finnish athletics union and future president of Finland, Urho Kekkonen announced that Finland would no longer take part in the event. The tension was in a large part caused by Swedish attempts, spearheaded by Sigfrid Edström, the Swedish president of the IAAF and vice-president of the IOC, to have Paavo Nurmi declared a professional athlete, and thus banned from international competitions. After Kekkonen's speech Swedish efforts intensified, and Nurmi was banned from the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

It took eight years until 1939, before the Finns again decided to participate in the games, at the eve of the planned 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.[3]

Results edit

Year Location Winner (men) Result Winner (women) Result
1925 Helsinki   Finland 99–85 – –
1927 Stockholm   Sweden 98–86 – –
1929 Helsinki   Sweden 93–90 – –
1931 Stockholm   Finland 104–76 – –
1939 Stockholm   Finland 112–102 – –
1940 Helsinki   Sweden 111–103 – –
1945 Stockholm   Sweden 105–79 – –
1946 Helsinki   Sweden 114.5–68.5 – –
1947 Gothenburg   Sweden 106–78 – –
1948 Helsingborg   Sweden 138–76 – –
1950 Stockholm   Sweden 123–88 – –
1951 Helsinki   Finland 216–194 – –
1953 Stockholm/Jyväskylä[4]   Sweden 217–193   Sweden 58–48
1954 Helsinki/Eskilstuna   Finland 207–202   Sweden 64–42
1955 Stockholm/Valkeakoski   Finland 213–196   Sweden 58–48
1956 Helsinki   Finland 209–201 – –
1957 Stockholm/Lahti   Finland 208–201   Sweden 64–42
1958 Helsinki/Jönköping   Finland 232–177   Sweden 66–51
1959 Gothenburg/Vammala   Finland 209–200   Sweden 64–53
1960 Helsinki/Linköping   Finland 216–194   Sweden 67–50
1961 Stockholm/Kouvola   Finland 220.5–189.5   Sweden 68.5–48.5
1962 Helsinki   Finland 219–190 – –
1963 Stockholm   Finland 220–190 – –
1964 Helsinki   Finland 210.5–199.5   Sweden 64–53
1965 Stockholm   Sweden 210–200   Sweden 65-52
1966 Helsinki   Sweden 208.5–199.5   Sweden 62–55
1967 Stockholm   Sweden 212–198   Sweden 66–51
1968 Helsinki   Finland 208.5–199.5   Sweden 64–52
1969 Stockholm   Sweden 212.5–195.5   Sweden 75–60
1970 Helsinki   Finland 227–182   Sweden 82–53
1971 Gothenburg   Finland 224–183   Sweden 71–64
1972 Helsinki   Finland 236.5–173.5   Finland 73–60
1973 Stockholm   Finland 223–187   Finland 77–69
1974 Helsinki   Finland 207–200   Finland 75–60
1975 Stockholm   Finland 214–191   Finland 94–62
1976 Helsinki   Finland 223–187   Finland 91–66
1977 Stockholm   Finland 212–194   Finland 86–69
1978 Helsinki   Finland 240–168   Finland 85–72
1979 Stockholm   Finland 214–194   Finland 80–77
1980 Helsinki   Finland 232–178   Sweden 79–78
1981 Stockholm   Finland 214–196   Sweden 81–75
1982 Helsinki   Finland 215–193   Sweden 79–78
1983 Stockholm   Finland 234–176   Sweden 83–74
1984 Helsinki   Finland 216–193   Finland 155–145
1985 Stockholm   Sweden 219–185   Sweden 166–156
1986 Helsinki   Sweden 210.5–198.5   Sweden 184–138
1987 Stockholm   Finland 210.5–197.5   Finland 165–157
1988 Helsinki   Finland 229.5–180.5   Finland 170–150
1989 Stockholm   Sweden 213–197   Finland 184–138
1990 Helsinki   Finland 217–193   Finland 182–140
1991 Stockholm   Sweden 226–183   Finland 197–147
1992 Helsinki   Sweden 198–187   Finland 195–149
1993 Stockholm   Sweden 215–192   Finland 198–144
1994 Stockholm   Sweden 219–190   Finland 174–170
1995 Helsinki   Finland 213–196   Finland 196–146
1996 Helsinki   Sweden 205.5–202.5   Finland 215–173
1997 Stockholm   Finland 207.5–198.5   Finland 223–165
1998 Helsinki   Finland 206–200   Finland 210–178
1999 Gothenburg   Sweden 210–198   Finland 212–175
2000 Helsinki   Sweden 216–194   Finland 219–191
2001 Gothenburg   Sweden 218–185   Sweden 213–197
2002 Helsinki   Finland 223–187   Sweden 215.5–192.5
2003 Helsinki   Finland 205–203   Sweden 208.5–201.5
2004 Gothenburg   Sweden 217–191   Sweden 228.5–178.5
2005 Gothenburg   Finland 212–197   Sweden 230–179
2006 Helsinki   Finland 204–201   Sweden 226–183
2007 Gothenburg   Finland 203–199   Sweden 219–189
2008 Helsinki   Finland 215–193   Sweden 209.5–197.5
2009 Gothenburg   Sweden 208–200   Sweden 213–197
2010 Helsinki   Finland 214–195   Sweden 226–182
2011 Helsinki   Finland 206–194   Sweden 225–182
2012 Gothenburg   Sweden 220–187   Finland 223–187
2013 Stockholm   Sweden 235–173   Sweden 215–195
2014 Helsinki   Sweden 216–193   Sweden 206–204
2015 Stockholm   Sweden 231–179   Finland 213.5–193.5
2016 Tampere   Sweden 210–200   Sweden 213–197
2017 Stockholm   Sweden 216–188   Sweden 232.5–177.5
2018 Tampere   Finland 206–202   Sweden 216–194
2019 Stockholm   Sweden 228–181   Sweden 217.5–192.5
2020 Tampere   Sweden 206–201   Sweden 221–186
2021 Stockholm   Sweden 230–201   Sweden 223.5–207.5
2022 Helsinki   Sweden 227.5–204.5   Sweden 225.5–205.5

Totals edit

  • Men:

Finland   46 – 36   Sweden

  • Women:

Finland   25 – 42   Sweden

  • Total:

Finland   71 – 78   Sweden

Competition records edit

Men edit

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref
100 m 10.19 Peter Karlsson   Sweden 1996 Helsinki, Finland
200 m 20.47 Johan Wissman   Sweden 2007 Gothenburg, Sweden
400 m 45.79 Markku Kukkoaho   Finland 1974 Helsinki, Finland
800 m 1:44.5 Pekka Vasala   Finland 1972 Helsinki, Finland
1500 m 3:36.06 Samuel Pihlström   Sweden 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [5]
5000 m 13:29.26 Andreas Almgren   Sweden 4 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [6]
10000 m 28:04.86 Martti Vainio   Finland 1978 Helsinki, Finland
3000 m steeplechase 8:20.8 Anders Gärderud   Sweden 1974 Helsinki, Finland
110 m hurdles 13.44 Robert Kronberg   Sweden 2000 Helsinki, Finland
400 m hurdles 48.86 Niklas Wallenlind   Sweden 1992 Helsinki, Finland
High jump 2.35 m Stefan Holm   Sweden 2004 Gothenburg, Sweden
Pole vault 6.00 m Armand Duplantis   Sweden 24 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [7]
Long jump 8.24 m (+0.4 m/s) Thobias Montler   Sweden 5 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [8]
Triple jump 17.51 m Christian Olsson   Sweden 2003 Helsinki, Finland
Shot put 20.86 m Reijo Ståhlberg   Finland 1978 Helsinki, Finland
Discus throw 69.42 m Daniel Ståhl   Sweden 25 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [9]
Hammer throw 79.35 m Olli-Pekka Karjalainen   Finland 2002 Helsinki, Finland
Javelin throw 89.36 m Seppo Räty   Finland 1990 Helsinki, Finland
10000 m walk (track) 38:03.95 Perseus Karlström   Sweden 24 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [10]
4 × 100 m relay 39.27   Sweden 24 August 1996 Helsinki, Finland
4 × 400 m relay 3:05.81 Emil Johansson
Anders Pihlblad
Andreas Kramer
Nick Ekelund-Arenander 		  Sweden 5 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [11]

Women edit

Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref
100 m 11.31 Linda Haglund   Sweden 1978 Helsinki, Finland
200 m 22.95 Irene Ekelund   Sweden 2013 Stockholm, Sweden
400 m 50.78 Riitta Salin   Finland 1974 Helsinki, Finland
800 m 2:00.50 Malin Ewerlöf   Sweden 1998 Helsinki, Finland
1500 m 4:09.32 Sara Kuivisto   Finland 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [12]
5000 m 15:14.09 Sarah Lahti   Sweden 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [13]
10000 m 31:57.15 Midde Hamrin   Sweden 1990 Helsinki, Finland
10 km (road) 32:32 Sarah Lahti   Sweden 2 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [14]
3000 m steeplechase 9:33.25 Emilia Lillemo   Sweden 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [15]
100 m hurdles 12.80 Susanna Kallur   Sweden 2007 Gothenburg, Sweden
400 m hurdles 54.58 Anne-Louise Skoglund   Sweden 1986 Helsinki, Finland
High jump 2.01 m Kajsa Bergqvist   Sweden 2002 Helsinki, Finland
Pole vault 4.61 m Angelica Bengtsson   Sweden 25 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [16]
Long jump 6.82 m Ringa Ropo-Junnila   Finland 1989 Stockholm, Sweden
Triple jump 14.34 m Heli Koivula   Finland 2002 Helsinki, Finland
Shot put 18.65 m Fanny Roos   Sweden 4 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [17]
Discus throw 61.87 m Anna Söderberg   Sweden 2008 Helsinki, Finland
Hammer throw 73.09 m Krista Tervo   Finland 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [18]
Javelin throw 63.56 m Paula Tarvainen   Finland 2006 Helsinki, Finland
5000 m walk (track) 20:54.62 Sari Essayah   Finland 1995 Helsinki, Finland
4 × 100 m relay 43.61 Emma Rienas
Carolina Klüft
Jenny Kallur
Susanna Kallur 		  Sweden 2005 Gothenburg, Sweden
4 × 400 m relay 3:33:30   Sweden 2002 Helsinki, Finland

References edit

  1. ^ Sonninen, A-P (2011-09-12). Finland and Sweden share match victories in famous annual match. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-09-17.
  2. ^ Julin, A. Lennart (2012-09-03). Swedish men, Finnish women victorious in Gothenburg as Klüft takes final bow. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-01-19.
  3. ^ "Suomen Urheiluliitto ry". Archived from the original on 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  4. ^ http://finnkampen.se/historik-och-fakta/41-2/[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Men's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Almgren raderade ut 49 år gammalt Finnkampsrekord". SVT Sport (in Swedish). 4 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Montlers jättehopp – nytt Finnkampsrekord". SVT Sport (in Swedish). 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Racewalking Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Finnkampen 2021 – Day 2 Results". World Athletics. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  12. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  14. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  15. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Finnkampen 2021 – Day 2 Results". World Athletics. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  18. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.

External links edit

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