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WEIGHTLIFTING
The first weightlifter to represent Finland at the Olympic Games was Rudolf Ekström, who lifted the heaviest weights in the
heavy middleweight category in Antwerp 1920 but was disqualified due to faulty technique. Finland had to wait for its first
weightlifting medal until Mexico 1968, where Kaarlo Kangasniemi won gold in the 90-kilogram category. In Los Angeles 1984
Jouni Grönman and Pekka Niemi won bronze medals for Finland in boycott-affected competitions.
MEN
Milko Tokola
* 10 October 1992 Kalajoki
Present residence: Tallinn (Estonia)
163 cm, 88 kg
Club: Rovaniemen Reipas
Coach: Alar Seim
Weight class: 85 kg
Finland achieved one Olympic quota place in men’s weightlifting at the European Championships of 2016 in Førde,
Norway. The ticket to Rio is used by Milko Tokola, who gained most points for the team by finishing twelfth in the 85
kg category. Milko’s fiancée Anna Everi is also a Finnish national team weightlifter. The pair moved to Tallinn 2015
to train under the Estonian coach Alar Seim.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
2011 WCh 28th (77 kg). EurCh 9th (77 kg).
2012 EurCh 16th (77 kg).
2013 EurCh 13th (85 kg).
2014 WCh 41st (85 kg). EurCh 11th (85 kg).
2016 EurCh 12th (85 kg).
PERSONAL BESTS:
Total: 335 kg (2016)
Snatch: 152 kg (2016)
Clean & Jerk: 183 kg (2016)