GAJDOŠ A. SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES IV
Vol. 7 Issue 3: 107 - 110
SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES IV
Anton Gajdoš, Bratislava, Slovakia
Ph.D. Anton Gajdoš born on 1.6.1940 in Dubriniči (today Ukraine) lives most of his life in Bratislava (ex TCH, nowadays SVK). He comes from gymnastics family (his brother Pavel have world championship medals) and he devoted his life to gymnastics. His last achievement is establishment of Narodna encyklopedia športu Slovenska (www.sportency.sk). Among his passion is collecting photos and signatures of gymnasts. As we tend to forget old champions and important gymnasts, judges and coaches, we decided to publish part of his archive under title Short historical notes. All information on these pages is from Anton's archives and collected through years.
FINLAND MEN TEAM AT OG 1948
The first Olympic Games after the WWII were in London (GBR) in 1948. At the competition, dominated countries, which were not severely demolished during the war. On the top after 2 consecutive 3rd places at 1932 Los Angeles (USA) and 1936 Berlin (GER), Finland steped to the top. Team consisted of Veikko Huhtanen (also won all around), Paavao Aaltonen (in all around he placed 3rd), Kalevi Laitinen, Olavi Rove, Einari Teräsvirta and Heikki Savolainen. Finland won gold in front Switzerland for a small margin with result 1358.30 to 1356.70. Finland team was also very successful on apparatus. Veikko Huhtanen was 3rd on horizontal bar, 2nd on parallel bars. Paavao Aaltonen won vault, while Olavi Rove wqas 2nd. On pommel horse all thre medals went to Finland - 1st Paavao Aaltonen, 2nd Veikko Huhtanen and 3rd Heikki Savolainen. Finland only on floor exercise and rings did not received a medal. For Finland this team is the most succesfull team ever. On photo below Esa Seeste - the flagman, competed at OG 1936 in Berlin.
Science of Gymnastics Journal
107
Science of Gymnastics Journal
GAJDOŠ A. SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES IV
Vol. 7 Issue 3: 107 - 110
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AKITOMO KANEKO (Japan)
Despite Professor Akitomo Kaneko as a gymnast, was not often decorated with medals, he was the most important person in making Japanese gymnastics the best in sixties and seventies of twentieth century. As a gymnast, he was part of Japonese team at OG 1952 in Helsinki (FIN), where team ranked 5th and Akitomo 21st in all around. Even better result was for Japan 2 years later at WC 1954 in Rome (ITA), where team ranked 2nd and Akitomo 19th in all around. His knowledge of biomechanics, gymnastics technique, methods made Japan gymnasts the best in the world. He served also as FIG MTC member for a long time.
On the left regards from MTC, Kaneko's signature on the bottom, included signs from Aleksander Lylo (Lexa)(CZE, former TCH), Tuomo Jalantien (FIN), Karl Heinz Zchocke (GER, former DDR), Boris Sachlin (UKR, former URS)
Science of Gymnastics Journal
108
Science of Gymnastics Journal
GAJDOŠ A. SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES IV
Vol. 7 Issue 3: 107 - 110
Japan team at WC 1954 in Rome, from left Kubota, Kono, Takemoto, Nabeya, Ono and Kaneko.
HELENA RAKOCZY (Poland)
Born (23.December 1921) and died (2. September 2014) in Krakow (Poland). She competed at two Olympic Games in Helsinki (FIN) 1952 and Melbourne (AUS) 1956. At Helsinki OG she made a mistake and she was 43rd in all around and with team 8th. In Melbourne she did much better, 8th in all around and 5th on uneven bars, while team was 4th. Her most glorious moment was in Basel, at World championship in 1950 , where she won all around, vault, beam and floor exercise, on uneven bars she took silver. At WC in Rome (ITA) in 1954 she was 3rd in all around and also 3rd on uneven bars.
Science of Gymnastics Journal
109
Science of Gymnastics Journal
GAJDOŠ A. SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES IV
Vol. 7 Issue 3: 107 - 110
Science of Gymnastics Journal
110
Science of Gymnastics Journal