Remembering a Legend: Antti Kalliomäki Reflects on Pentti Nikula’s Legacy
Pole vaulting icon Antti Kalliomäki speaks fondly of the late Pentti Nikula, a towering figure in Finnish athletics who passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday, October 30.
In the early 1960s, Nikula was more than just an athlete; he was an inspiration to countless young sports enthusiasts, including Kalliomäki, who recalls the incredible impact Nikula had on his early life.
“I looked up to Pentti not just as an athlete but as a true role model,” Kalliomäki reflects. Now 78, Kalliomäki vividly remembers the day in June 1962 when Nikula set a new world record of 4.94 meters in Kauhava—a moment that electrified the nation and motivated many youths to embrace the daring sport of pole vaulting.
“Back then, little boys could be teased mercilessly if they failed to perform on less-than-ideal jumping platforms,” Kalliomäki recalls, his tone somber yet nostalgic.
While Kalliomäki had already taken to pole vaulting before that record-breaking jump, he acknowledges that the sport itself was undergoing a transformation. The introduction of fiberglass poles represented a seismic shift in technique compared to the steel weapons of the past. “I was still using wooden poles at that time and for a couple of years thereafter,” he notes.
A Historic Summer
That same summer of 1962, Nikula captured gold at the European Championships in Belgrade, solidifying his status as a legend in the sport. “Pentti’s early world record was astonishing, and I was equally moved when he shattered his own records just months later,” Kalliomäki recollects, particularly enthused about Nikula’s stunning performances in a competition at Pajulahti in the winter of 1963.
“I came home late that night after a school assembly, only to find a note on the kitchen table. It said, ‘Nikula jumped 500, 505, and 510.’ Those numbers stayed with me forever,” Kalliomäki chuckles, recalling the sheer excitement of those achievements.
Despite the acclaim, Nikula’s heavy jumps were not considered official at the time, largely because his five-meter crossed in May 1963 in Pori came just after American Brian Sternberg had achieved the same milestone. “I watched that event too, held at Herralahti, where the crowd was just a couple of meters away from us jumpers,” Kalliomäki reminisces.
Reflecting on Nikula’s profound influence, Kalliomäki states, “His legacy isn’t just etched in pole vaulting; it’s woven into the very fabric of Finnish athletics as a whole.” As someone who once earned silver medals at both the Olympics and European Championships, Kalliomäki understands the power of sporting friends like Nikula to elevate the profile of the sport.
A Life Beyond the Field
After Nikula’s athletics career, Kalliomäki continued to engage with him through their mutual love of sports and shared social circles. “He attended games and handed out awards,” Kalliomäki recalls, reflecting on their enduring friendship.
Even in his later years, when Kalliomäki served as a member of parliament and chairman of the SDP’s parliamentary group, they often crossed paths. “Pentti was both eloquent and elegant, a true gentleman,” he adds, evoking admiration for his late friend.
Their camaraderie deepened during informal gatherings with fellow pole vaulters. Kalliomäki smiles as he recounts moments spent fishing at Nikula’s summer home, where friendly ribbing and challenges became commonplace. “I once joked about having a chin-up contest, only to find out Pentti was in prime form, pulling off several chins until he finally snapped!”
Beyond nostalgic stories, Kalliomäki’s reflections capture the essence of what made Pentti Nikula not just a sportsman, but a beloved figure who left an indelible mark on Finnish culture.
As we turn the page on another year, stories like this remind us of the giants who have shaped our sporting landscape. Kalliomäki’s tribute to Nikula will echo in the annals of Finnish athletics, celebrating the legacy of a true legend.