Jouko Yrjö Nikkanen (31 December 1914 – 18 November 1985) was a Finnish javelin thrower, who won a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics. His best throw of 70.77 meters was only one meter behind that of the gold medalist Gerhard Stöck, and just five centimeters ahead that of Kalervo Toivonen.^[1]

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Yrjö Nikkanen

Personal information
Born	31 December 1914 Kanneljärvi, Finland
Died	18 November 1985 (aged 70) Suoniemi, Finland
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Club	Pölläkkälän Ura
Achievements and titles
Personal best	78.70 m (1938)[1][2]
Medal record Representing  Finland Olympic Games 1936 Berlin Javelin throw European Championships 1938 Paris Javelin throw 1946 Oslo Javelin throw

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On 25 August 1938, Nikkanen set a world record at 77.87 meters; less than two months later, on 16 October 1938, he had improved his record to 78.70 m. Nikkanen's record was bettered only on 8 August 1953 by Bud Held.^[3]