Regions of Russia

The country now known as Russia existed since 862. It was an empire under a Csar since 1547. It expanded n 1720 (Baltics), 1795 (Poland), 1812 (Finland), 1816 (Poland and Bessarabia) and 1914 (new Asian territories).
Russia became part of the Soviet Union in 1918. It reachieved independence in 1991.

Karelia

Karelia has always been Russian, but when Finland became independent, a small part in the South of the present-day Karelian republic became Finnish. This part became Soviet again after 1945, and has been Russian since 1991.

Olympians born between 1918 and 1945 in the Finnish part of Karelia:

Representing Finland:
  1. (1000) Aarne Pelkonen (FIN/GYM/1912)
  2. (74.00) Toivo Ovaska (FIN/SSK/1928)
  3. (-5.13) Werner Walldén (FIN/EQE/1936)
  4. (26.38) William Kanerva (FIN/FOO/1936)
  5. (2560) Benjam Vanninen (FIN/CCS/1948)
  6. (1600) Pekka Vanninen (FIN/CCS/1948)
  7. (1.475) Tauno Rinkinen (FIN/BOX/1948)
  8. (60.00) Pekka Mellavuo (FIN/WRF/1948)
  9. (31815) Veikko Hakulinen (FIN/CCS-BIA/1952-64)
  10. (4.925) Pauli Tavisalo (FIN/ATH/1952)
  11. (162.5) Tuomo Tuormaa (FIN/CAS/1952)
  12. (10.40) Toivo Räsänen (FIN/ROW/1952)
  13. (160.0) Olavi Latsa (FIN/CCS/1956)
  14. (25.60) Yrjö Uimonen (FIN/SSK/1956)
  15. (-9.80) Arvi Tervalampi (FIN/EQJ/1956)
  16. (556.0) Simo Kuismanen (FIN/KAY/1956-60)
  17. (520.0) Heino Pulli (FIN/ICH/1960-64)
  18. (240.0) Viktor Ahven (FIN/WRG/1960)
  19. (-2.80) Mauno Luukkonen (FIN/BIA/1968)
  20. (-3.10) Seppo Reijonen (FIN/SKJ/1968)
  21. Anne Kyllönen FIN CCS 2014 30 November 1987 Yakimvaara, Respublika Kareliya (RUS)
  22. Seppo Pelkonen FIN FTB 1952 13 April 1930 Sortavala, Respublika Kareliya (RUS)
  23. Sylvi Saimo FIN CAN 1948—1952 12 November 1914 Ruskeala, Respublika Kareliya (RUS)

Vyborg district

The city of Vyborg was founded by Swedes in 1293. The region was conquered by Russia in 1710 and this was confirmed by the Treaty of Nystad in 1721.
When Finland became Russian in 1812, Vyborg was included in the Grand Duchy of Finland. It is known as Viipuri in Finnish.
Finland became independent in 1919 and Vyborg was included in the new country.
Vyborg became Russian again in 1940 but was occupied by Finnish troops from 1941 to 1944, but was finally ceded to the Soviet Union in 1947. Most of the Finnish speaking population was resettled to Finland.
Vyborg district is now part of Leningrad Oblast, Russia.

Olympians born between 1832 and 1918 in Vyborg district (then Russian):

Representing Finland:
  1. (2346) Heikki Åhlman (FIN/ATH/1906)
  2. (6.902) Lauri Wilskman (FIN/ATH/1908)
  3. (-10.11) Riku Korhonen (FIN/GYM/1908)
  4. (0.036) Iivari Partanen (FIN/GYM/1908)
  5. (0.036) Jaska Saarivuori (FIN/GYM/1908)
  6. (0.036) David Teivonen (FIN/GYM/1908)
  7. (800.0) Viljo Lietola (FIN/FOO/1912)
  8. (800.0) Algoth Niska (FIN/FOO/1912)
  9. (800.0) August Syrjäläinen (FIN/FOO/1912)
  10. (1000) Kalle Ekholm (FIN/GYM/1912)
  11. (-3.50) Antti Tamminen (FIN/GYM/1912)
  12. (2000) Waldemar Björkstén (FIN/SAI/1912)
  13. (2000) Bror Brenner (FIN/SAI/1912)
  14. (2000) Allan Franck (FIN/SAI/1912)
  15. (2000) Juho Aarne Pekkalainen (FIN/SAI/1912)
  16. (2000) Jacob Björnström (FIN/SAI/1912)
  17. (3840) Alppo Asikainen (FIN/WRG/1912)
  18. (19200) Oskari Friman (FIN/WRG/1920-24)
  19. (105.6) Sulo Jääskeläinen (FIN/SKJ-NOC/1924)
  20. (4.320) Hugo Koivuniemi (FIN/DIV/1924)
  21. (17.20) Atte Lindqvist (FIN/DIV/1924)
  22. (160.0) Arvo Peussa (FIN/ATH/1924)
  23. (6.400) Toivo Hörkkö (FIN/CYR/1924)
  24. (100.0) Väinö Karonen (FIN/GYM/1924)
  25. (350.0) Jaakko Kunnas (FIN/GYM/1924-28)
  26. (100.0) Eevert Kerttula (FIN/GYM/1924)
  27. (100.0) Eetu Kostamo (FIN/GYM/1924)
  28. (1515) Henrik Avellan (FIN/MOP/1924-28)
  29. (6648) Aleksanteri Toivola (FIN/WRG/1924-28)
  30. (3.777) Valfrid Resch (FIN/BOX/1928,48)
  31. (250.0) Urho Korhonen (FIN/GYM/1928)
  32. (3391) Mauri Nyberg-Noroma (FIN/GYM/1928-36)
  33. (250.0) Birger Stenman (FIN/GYM/1928)
  34. (62.40) Lauri Kettunen (FIN/MOP-FEN/1928,36)
  35. (4127) Einari Teräsvirta (FIN/GYM/1932-48)
  36. (1923) Ilmari Pakarinen (FIN/GYM/1932-36)
  37. (6000) Yrjö Nikkanen (FIN/ATH/1936)
  38. (9600) Sten Suvio (FIN/BOX/1936)
  39. (26.38) Arvo Närvänen (FIN/FOO/1936)
  40. (3211) Aleksanteri Saarvala (FIN/GYM/1936-48)
  41. (643.1) Esa Seeste (FIN/GYM/1936)
  42. (0.028) Eino Tukiainen (FIN/GYM/1936)
  43. (107.8) Olavi Lastikka (FIN/ART/1948)
  44. (6.000) Mikko Hietanen (FIN/ATH/1948-52)
  45. (0.408) Paavo Toivari (FIN/ATH/1948)
  46. (4.040) Mauno Roiha (FIN/EQE-EQD-EQJ/1948-56)
  47. (150.0) Eino Saarnikko (FIN/SHO/1948)
  48. (9.600) Onni Hynninen (FIN/SHO/1948)
  49. (384.0) Erkki Johansson (FIN/WRF/1948)
  50. (26.00) Reino Lindroos (FIN/HOC/1952)
  51. (97.50) Matti Maisala (FIN/ROW/1960)
  52. (200.0) Rudolf Närjänen (FIN/CAF/1964)
  53. (12.90) Mauno Maisala (FIN/ROW/1964)
All these athletes represented Finland and must be considered Finnish nationals

Representing Russia:

  1. (4.001) Nikolay Neklepayev (RUS/ATH/1912)

Olympians born between 1919 and 1940 in Viipuri district (then Finnish):

  1. (2400) Pauli Vesterinen (FIN/ATH/1948)
  2. (400.0) Olavi Talja (FIN/ATH/1948-52)
  3. (6.000) Hannes Sonck (FIN/ATH/1948)
  4. (79.13) Olavi Ouvinen (FIN/BOX/1948)
  5. (0.320) Tauno Rissanen (FIN/EQJ/1948)
  6. (11416) Veikko Huhtanen (FIN/GYM/1948)
  7. (606.4) Aulis Sipponen (FIN/NOC-CCS/1952)
  8. (200.0) Esko Rekomaa (FIN/ICH/1952)
  9. (200.0) Unto Wiitala (FIN/ICH/1952)
  10. (470.4) Kauko Salomaa (FIN/SSK/1952-56)
  11. (624.6) Eeti Nieminen (FIN/NOC-CCS/1952-56)
  12. (1.667) Pentti Ikonen (FIN/SWI/1952)
  13. (3.840) Aulis Kähkönen (FIN/SWI/1952)
  14. (6.400) Ritva Koivula (FIN/SWI/1952)
  15. (5346) Jorma Valkama (FIN/ATH/1952-60)
  16. (96.00) Kaarina Koivuniemi (FIN/ATH/1952)
  17. (7.250) Pertti Mutru (FIN/BAS/1952)
  18. (107.8) Paul Nyman (FIN/CYR-CYT/1952-60)
  19. (-6.80) Viktor Jansson (FIN/EQJ/1952)
  20. (256.4) Maila Nisula (FIN/GYM/1952)
  21. (26.00) Erkki Heikkilä (FIN/HOC/1952)
  22. (26.00) Risto Lamppu (FIN/HOC/1952)
  23. (150.0) Hemmo Silvennoinen (FIN/SKJ/1956)
  24. (7530) Ole Mannonen (FIN/MOP/1952-56)
  25. (672.0) Olavi Rokka (FIN/MOP/1952)
  26. (17.00) Paavo Miettinen (FIN/FEN/1952)
  27. (256.4) Pirkko Vilppunen (FIN/GYM/1952)
  28. (10.40) Esko Lyytikkä (FIN/ROW/1952)
  29. (1250) Veijo Mikkolainen (FIN/ROW/1952)
  30. (606.0) Eino Kirjonen (FIN/SKJ/1956-60)
  31. (31.20) Ilkka Auer (FIN/ATH/1956)
  32. (984.0) Matti Sutinen (FIN/ATH/1956-60)
  33. (683.7) Martti Mansikka (FIN/GYM/1956)
  34. (200.0) Matti Lampainen (FIN/ICH/1960)
  35. (520.0) Esko Luostarinen (FIN/ICH/1960-64)
  36. (200.0) Voitto Soini (FIN/ICH/1960)
  37. (640.0) Pentti Pelkonen (FIN/CCS/1960)
  38. (1.620) Pentti Karvonen (FIN/ATH/1960)
  39. (2400) Väinö Kuisma (FIN/ATH/1960)
  40. (79.13) Viljo Aho (FIN/BOX/1960)
  41. (79.13) Matti Aho (FIN/BOX/1960)
  42. (230.4) Otto Kestola (FIN/GYM/1960-64)
  43. (160.0) Sakari Olkkonen (FIN/GYM/1960)
  44. (0.060) Kaarle Pekkala (FIN/SHO/1960)
  45. (2.560) Jussi Nordqvist (FIN/SHO/1960)
  46. (1500) Antero Vanhanen (FIN/WRG/1960)
  47. (6.400) Pekka Lattunen (FIN/SSK/1964)
  48. (24.00) Taisto Laitinen (FIN/ATH/1964)
  49. (203.5) Immo Huhtinen (FIN/SHO/1964-72)
All these athletes represented Finland and must be considered Finnish nationals

The town of Zelenogorsk (Terjöki in Finnish) is now part of Saint Petersburg (Federal city), but it was formerly also part of Vyborg district and Finland. Two Olympians hail from there:

  1. (3432) Antero Ojala (FIN/SSK/1936-48)
  2. (17.00) Toivo Sariola (FIN/ATH/1936)
The town of Martinsaari was part of Finland even before 1812, but it fell to the Soviet Union (Russia) after some border corrections in 1947. It was the birthplace of
  1. (10560) Veli Saarinen (FIN/CCS/1928-32)

Priozersky district

The history of Priozersk is similar to that of Vyborg (scroll up to read), except for the fact that it had been Russian before the "Great Northern War" with Sweden, at the end of which the area was definitely Russian, except for the period between 1919 and 1940, when it was part of Finland.

Olympians born between 1832 and 1918 in Priozersk district (then Russian):

Representing Finland:
  1. (-5.48) Heikki Hallamaa (FIN/SHO/1908)
  2. (240.0) Albert Lamppu (FIN/ATH/1928)

Olympians born between 1919 and 1945 in Priozersk district (then Finnish):

  1. (2601) August Kiuru (FIN/CCS/1948,56)
  2. (5340) Veikko Karvonen (FIN/ATH/1952-56)
  3. (1500) Jorma Valtonen (FIN/ATH/1952)
  4. (255.0) Pentti Repo (FIN/ATH/1960-64)
  5. (1430) Urpo Ylönen (FIN/ICH/1968,76)
  6. (1500) Arvo Kinnari (FIN/BIA/1968)

North Ingria

Always a part of Russia, this region was inhabited by Finnish speakers. It declared its independence after the October revolution but was re-integrated into Russia with the Peace Treaty of Tartu (1920). It never belonged to Finland, but one Olympian who represented Finland was born there:

Olympian born in North Ingria (Russia)

  1. (960.0) Sulo Leppänen (FIN/WRF/1948)

Kaliningrad

The northern part of the German province of East Prussia was transferred to the Soviet Union after WWII. The German population was expelled and replaced by Soviet citizens, mainly Russians. It formed part of the RSFSR and remained in Russia (and an exclave of that nation) after 1991. The main city, Königsberg, was renamed Kaliningrad and is still called that today.

Olympians born before 1945 in Kaliningrad (then German)

  1. (1280) Max Bröske (GER/ROW/1912)
  2. (1500) Bruno Schlokat (GER/ATH/1928)
  3. (-5.80) Walter Feyerabend (GER/EQE/1928)
  4. (3204) Bruno Neumann (GER/EQE/1928)
  5. (96.00) Hans Fritsch (GER/ATH/1936)
  6. (2.870) Siegfried Reischies (GER/BAS/1936)
  7. (6600) Friedrich Gerhard (GER/EQD/1936)
  8. (5000) Horst Arndt (GER/ROW/1956)
  9. (9306) Renate Boy-Garisch-Culmberger (gdr-GER/ATH/1960-68)
  10. (3089) Manfred Kinder (frg-GER/ATH/1960-68)
  11. (19.76) Georg Neuber (GER/FEN/1960)
  12. (3200) Frank Schepke (GER/ROW/1960)
  13. (3200) Kraft Schepke (GER/ROW/1960)
  14. (2576) Klaus Zähringer (frg-GER/SHO/1960-68)
  15. (6800) Peter Kohnke (frg-GER/SHO/1960,68)
  16. (96.00) Helga Zimmermann (GER/SWI/1964)
  17. (640.0) Jürgen Thiel (gdr-GER/SWI/1964-68)
  18. (0.271) Lutz Philipp (frg-GER/ATH/1964-72)
  19. (60.00) Hans Schenk (GER/ATH/1964)
  20. (15800) Harry Boldt (frg-GER/EQD/1964,76)
  21. (700.0) Günter Bergau (gdr-GER/ROW/1964-68)
  22. (0.160) Rudolf Bortz (GER/SHO/1964)
  23. (-2.38) Herbert Wessel (gdr-GER/ATH/1968)
  24. (1730) Karin Burneleit (gdr-GER/ATH/1968)
  25. (1500) Erich Masurat (frg-GER/SHO/1968)
  26. (6400) Bernd Kannenberg (frg-GER/1972-76)
  27. (384) Werner Schröter (frg-GER/WRG/1972)
  28. Helmut Behrendt GDR 1976 18 January 1904 Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad (RUS)

Written 2020-05-21 - last modified 2022-03-15

This page is part of the site "Full Olympians" by Herman De Wael. See here for a full Introduction.