Sirkka Polkunen

Sirkka Tellervo "Telle" Polkunen (later Vilander, 6 November 1927 – 28 September 2014),[1] was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. She won a gold medal in the 3 × 5 km relay in 1956 and placed fifth and eighth in the individual 10 km event in 1952 and 1956, respectively. Polkunen also won a silver medal in the 3 × 5 km relay at the 1954 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and finished sixth in the 10 km at those championships.[2]

Sirkka Polkunen

Polkunen at the 1952 Olympics
Personal information
Born	6 November 1927 Jyväskylä, Finland
Died	28 September 2014 (aged 86) Laukaa, Finland
Height	163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Weight	59 kg (130 lb)
Sport
Sport	Cross-country skiing
Club	Vihtavuoren Pamaus
Medal record Women's cross-country skiing Representing  Finland Olympic Games 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 3 × 5 km relay World Championships 1954 Falun 3 × 5 km relay

Polkunen never won a national title, placing second-third over 10 km in 1951, 1953–54 and 1956. She worked as a loader and packer at the Vihtavuori gunpowder factory,[2] and retired from competitions in 1957.[1]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[3]

Olympic Games

• 1 medal – (1 gold)

Year	Age	10 km	3 × 5 km   relay
1952	24	5	N/A
1956	28	8	Gold

World Championships

• 1 medal – (1 silver)

Year	Age	10 km	3 × 5 km   relay
1954	26	6	Silver

References

1. Sirkka Polkunen's obituary Archived 17 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Sirkka Polkunen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
3. "POLKUNEN Sirkka". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

External links

• Sirkka Polkunen at the International Ski Federation
• Sirkka Polkunen at the International Olympic Committee