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Finland-Sweden Athletics International

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Finland-Sweden athletics international
SportAthletics
First season1925
No. of teams2
CountriesFinland Finland
Sweden Sweden
Germany Germany (1940 only)
Most recent
champion(s)		Men: Sweden
Women: Sweden
Most titlesMen: Finland (46)
Women: Sweden (42)
Official websitewww.ruotsiottelu.fi (in Finnish)
www.finnkampen.se (in Swedish)

Finnkampen (Swedish, literally The Finn Battle), Suomi-Ruotsi-maaottelu (literally The Finland-Sweden match) or Ruotsi-ottelu (Sverigekampen, literally The Sweden Battle), is a yearly international athletics competition held between Sweden and Finland since 1925.

It is (since the late 1980s) the only annual athletics international with only two participating countries still held at a professional level. The two-day event attracts significant audiences, with a combined total of over 50,000 tickets sold for the 2011 competition.[1] Three-time heptathlon world champion Carolina Klüft made her final international appearance for Sweden at the meeting in 2012.[2]

Competition

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2013 Finland-Sweden international in Stockholm

The competition is actually divided into two internationals, one for men and one for women. Youth competitions for men and women are also held. Each country provides their three best participants in each of the events, except for the relays where there are four participants (one team) from each country. Traditionally, the competitions have been arranged alternatively, with Finland hosting in even years and Sweden in odd years. This has changed few times in recent years, seeing one country arranging the international twice in a row a few times. The reasons for this include stadium renovations and major international competitions. Points are given to all contestants completing their event (no points are given to athletes who are disqualified, do not finish the event or don't get the result in field competitions), based on the final position in every event. Points given in each event are, from 1st to 6th place: 7-5-4-3-2-1, and in relays 1st and 2nd place are awarded with 5 and 2 points.

The competition may not be a world class one looking at the results, no single world record has been set, but there are few competitions in the world that are fiercer and more prestigious. This is most often seen in the middle-distance running, where tactics are more important than time, and these events have seen many foul tricks during the years, in 1992 resulting in the disqualification of all six runners in the men's 1500 metres event.

Another important aspect of the event is that it is a team competition. A competitor who manages to reach fourth place instead of a projected sixth place can be just as important, or even more important, for the result as a "star" that secures the expected first place. A fight to the finish between competitor number five and six, half a lap behind the winner, can be just as important as the actual winner. The race is not over until the last competitor crosses the line. For many of the competitors the international is the most prestigious competition of the year.

The events in Finland have always been held in Helsinki, after 1939 at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, but 2016 and 2018 events took place at Ratina Stadium in Tampere due to renovation of the Olympic Stadium. The Swedish events have mostly been held in Stockholm at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium. From 1999 until 2012 they were held in Gothenburg at the Ullevi Stadium because of larger spectator capacity.

Events

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5000 metres in 2019

History

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1500 meters in 1939
Athletics game Finland-Sweden-Germany 7.9.1940 in Helsinki, spectators from left: Urho Kekkonen, Field Marshal Mannerheim, Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, President of Finland Risto Ryti and Reichssportführer Hans von Tschammer und Osten of Germany

Finnkampen was held for the first time in Helsinki in 1925, with one of the participants being the five-time Olympic champion in the 1924 Summer Olympics, Paavo Nurmi. Competitions were held in 1927, 1929 and 1931. After a pause of eight years the next competition was held in 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, which led to the cancellation of the competition between 1941 and 1944. The 1940 competition was held as a triple event between Finland, Sweden and Germany, with only two athletes from each country competing in each event. The international has been continually held for men since 1945 and for women since 1964, although the first women's competition was held already in 1953.

1931 breakup

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The first competitions were very much influenced by the love-hate relationship between Sweden and Finland. The 1931 event was a victory for Finland, but tensions at the track led to a knuckle fight between the runners-up in the 800 metres race.

At the banquet after the games, the new chairman of the Finnish athletics union and future president of Finland, Urho Kekkonen announced that Finland would no longer take part in the event. The tension was in a large part caused by Swedish attempts, spearheaded by Sigfrid Edström, the Swedish president of the IAAF and vice-president of the IOC, to have Paavo Nurmi declared a professional athlete, and thus banned from international competitions. After Kekkonen's speech Swedish efforts intensified, and Nurmi was banned from the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

It took eight years until 1939, before the Finns again decided to participate in the games, at the eve of the planned 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.[3]

Results

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Year Location Winner (men) Result Winner (women) Result
1925 Helsinki Finland 99–85 – –
1927 Stockholm Sweden 98–86 – –
1929 Helsinki Sweden 93–90 – –
1931 Stockholm Finland 104–76 – –
1939 Stockholm Finland 112–102 – –
1940 Helsinki Sweden 111–103 – –
1945 Stockholm Sweden 105–79 – –
1946 Helsinki Sweden 114.5–68.5 – –
1947 Gothenburg Sweden 106–78 – –
1948 Helsingborg Sweden 138–76 – –
1950 Stockholm Sweden 123–88 – –
1951 Helsinki Finland 216–194 – –
1953 Stockholm/Jyväskylä[4] Sweden 217–193 Sweden 58–48
1954 Helsinki/Eskilstuna Finland 207–202 Sweden 64–42
1955 Stockholm/Valkeakoski Finland 213–196 Sweden 58–48
1956 Helsinki Finland 209–201 – –
1957 Stockholm/Lahti Finland 208–201 Sweden 64–42
1958 Helsinki/Jönköping Finland 232–177 Sweden 66–51
1959 Gothenburg/Vammala Finland 209–200 Sweden 64–53
1960 Helsinki/Linköping Finland 216–194 Sweden 67–50
1961 Stockholm/Kouvola Finland 220.5–189.5 Sweden 68.5–48.5
1962 Helsinki Finland 219–190 – –
1963 Stockholm Finland 220–190 – –
1964 Helsinki Finland 210.5–199.5 Sweden 64–53
1965 Stockholm Sweden 210–200 Sweden 65-52
1966 Helsinki Sweden 208.5–199.5 Sweden 62–55
1967 Stockholm Sweden 212–198 Sweden 66–51
1968 Helsinki Finland 208.5–199.5 Sweden 64–52
1969 Stockholm Sweden 212.5–195.5 Sweden 75–60
1970 Helsinki Finland 227–182 Sweden 82–53
1971 Gothenburg Finland 224–183 Sweden 71–64
1972 Helsinki Finland 236.5–173.5 Finland 73–60
1973 Stockholm Finland 223–187 Finland 77–69
1974 Helsinki Finland 207–200 Finland 75–60
1975 Stockholm Finland 214–191 Finland 94–62
1976 Helsinki Finland 223–187 Finland 91–66
1977 Stockholm Finland 212–194 Finland 86–69
1978 Helsinki Finland 240–168 Finland 85–72
1979 Stockholm Finland 214–194 Finland 80–77
1980 Helsinki Finland 232–178 Sweden 79–78
1981 Stockholm Finland 214–196 Sweden 81–75
1982 Helsinki Finland 215–193 Sweden 79–78
1983 Stockholm Finland 234–176 Sweden 83–74
1984 Helsinki Finland 216–193 Finland 155–145
1985 Stockholm Sweden 219–185 Sweden 166–156
1986 Helsinki Sweden 210.5–198.5 Sweden 184–138
1987 Stockholm Finland 210.5–197.5 Finland 165–157
1988 Helsinki Finland 229.5–180.5 Finland 170–150
1989 Stockholm Sweden 213–197 Finland 184–138
1990 Helsinki Finland 217–193 Finland 182–140
1991 Stockholm Sweden 226–183 Finland 197–147
1992 Helsinki Sweden 198–187 Finland 195–149
1993 Stockholm Sweden 215–192 Finland 198–144
1994 Stockholm Sweden 219–190 Finland 174–170
1995 Helsinki Finland 213–196 Finland 196–146
1996 Helsinki Sweden 205.5–202.5 Finland 215–173
1997 Stockholm Finland 207.5–198.5 Finland 223–165
1998 Helsinki Finland 206–200 Finland 210–178
1999 Gothenburg Sweden 210–198 Finland 212–175
2000 Helsinki Sweden 216–194 Finland 219–191
2001 Gothenburg Sweden 218–185 Sweden 213–197
2002 Helsinki Finland 223–187 Sweden 215.5–192.5
2003 Helsinki Finland 205–203 Sweden 208.5–201.5
2004 Gothenburg Sweden 217–191 Sweden 228.5–178.5
2005 Gothenburg Finland 212–197 Sweden 230–179
2006 Helsinki Finland 204–201 Sweden 226–183
2007 Gothenburg Finland 203–199 Sweden 219–189
2008 Helsinki Finland 215–193 Sweden 209.5–197.5
2009 Gothenburg Sweden 208–200 Sweden 213–197
2010 Helsinki Finland 214–195 Sweden 226–182
2011 Helsinki Finland 206–194 Sweden 225–182
2012 Gothenburg Sweden 220–187 Finland 223–187
2013 Stockholm Sweden 235–173 Sweden 215–195
2014 Helsinki Sweden 216–193 Sweden 206–204
2015 Stockholm Sweden 231–179 Finland 213.5–193.5
2016 Tampere Sweden 210–200 Sweden 213–197
2017 Stockholm Sweden 216–188 Sweden 232.5–177.5
2018 Tampere Finland 206–202 Sweden 216–194
2019 Stockholm Sweden 228–181 Sweden 217.5–192.5
2020 Tampere Sweden 206–201 Sweden 221–186
2021 Stockholm Sweden 230–201 Sweden 223.5–207.5
2022 Helsinki Sweden 227.5–204.5 Sweden 225.5–205.5

Totals

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  • Men:

Finland Finland 46 – 36 Sweden Sweden

  • Women:

Finland Finland 25 – 42 Sweden Sweden

  • Total:

Finland Finland 71 – 78 Sweden Sweden

Competition records

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Men

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Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref
100 m 10.19 Peter Karlsson  Sweden 1996 Helsinki, Finland
200 m 20.47 Johan Wissman  Sweden 2007 Gothenburg, Sweden
400 m 45.79 Markku Kukkoaho  Finland 1974 Helsinki, Finland
800 m 1:44.5 Pekka Vasala  Finland 1972 Helsinki, Finland
1500 m 3:36.06 Samuel Pihlström  Sweden 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [5]
5000 m 13:29.26 Andreas Almgren  Sweden 4 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [6]
10000 m 28:04.86 Martti Vainio  Finland 1978 Helsinki, Finland
3000 m steeplechase 8:20.8 Anders Gärderud  Sweden 1974 Helsinki, Finland
110 m hurdles 13.44 Robert Kronberg  Sweden 2000 Helsinki, Finland
400 m hurdles 48.86 Niklas Wallenlind  Sweden 1992 Helsinki, Finland
High jump 2.35 m Stefan Holm  Sweden 2004 Gothenburg, Sweden
Pole vault 6.00 m Armand Duplantis  Sweden 24 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [7]
Long jump 8.24 m (+0.4 m/s) Thobias Montler  Sweden 5 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [8]
Triple jump 17.51 m Christian Olsson  Sweden 2003 Helsinki, Finland
Shot put 20.86 m Reijo Ståhlberg  Finland 1978 Helsinki, Finland
Discus throw 69.42 m Daniel Ståhl  Sweden 25 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [9]
Hammer throw 79.35 m Olli-Pekka Karjalainen  Finland 2002 Helsinki, Finland
Javelin throw 89.36 m Seppo Räty  Finland 1990 Helsinki, Finland
10000 m walk (track) 38:03.95 Perseus Karlström  Sweden 24 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [10]
4 × 100 m relay 39.27  Sweden 24 August 1996 Helsinki, Finland
4 × 400 m relay 3:05.81 Emil Johansson
Anders Pihlblad
Andreas Kramer
Nick Ekelund-Arenander 		 Sweden 5 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [11]

Women

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Event Record Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref
100 m 11.31 Linda Haglund  Sweden 1978 Helsinki, Finland
200 m 22.95 Irene Ekelund  Sweden 2013 Stockholm, Sweden
400 m 50.78 Riitta Salin  Finland 1974 Helsinki, Finland
800 m 2:00.50 Malin Ewerlöf  Sweden 1998 Helsinki, Finland
1500 m 4:09.32 Sara Kuivisto  Finland 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [12]
5000 m 15:14.09 Sarah Lahti  Sweden 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [13]
10000 m 31:57.15 Midde Hamrin  Sweden 1990 Helsinki, Finland
10 km (road) 32:32 Sarah Lahti  Sweden 2 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [14]
3000 m steeplechase 9:33.25 Emilia Lillemo  Sweden 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [15]
100 m hurdles 12.80 Susanna Kallur  Sweden 2007 Gothenburg, Sweden
400 m hurdles 54.58 Anne-Louise Skoglund  Sweden 1986 Helsinki, Finland
High jump 2.01 m Kajsa Bergqvist  Sweden 2002 Helsinki, Finland
Pole vault 4.61 m Angelica Bengtsson  Sweden 25 August 2019 Stockholm, Sweden [16]
Long jump 6.82 m Ringa Ropo-Junnila  Finland 1989 Stockholm, Sweden
Triple jump 14.34 m Heli Koivula  Finland 2002 Helsinki, Finland
Shot put 18.65 m Fanny Roos  Sweden 4 September 2021 Stockholm, Sweden [17]
Discus throw 61.87 m Anna Söderberg  Sweden 2008 Helsinki, Finland
Hammer throw 73.09 m Krista Tervo  Finland 3 September 2023 Stockholm, Sweden [18]
Javelin throw 63.56 m Paula Tarvainen  Finland 2006 Helsinki, Finland
5000 m walk (track) 20:54.62 Sari Essayah  Finland 1995 Helsinki, Finland
4 × 100 m relay 43.61 Emma Rienas
Carolina Klüft
Jenny Kallur
Susanna Kallur 		 Sweden 2005 Gothenburg, Sweden
4 × 400 m relay 3:33:30  Sweden 2002 Helsinki, Finland

References

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  1. ^ Sonninen, A-P (2011-09-12). Finland and Sweden share match victories in famous annual match. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-09-17.
  2. ^ Julin, A. Lennart (2012-09-03). Swedish men, Finnish women victorious in Gothenburg as Klüft takes final bow. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-01-19.
  3. ^ "Suomen Urheiluliitto ry". Archived from the original on 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  4. ^ http://finnkampen.se/historik-och-fakta/41-2/[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Men's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Almgren raderade ut 49 år gammalt Finnkampsrekord". SVT Sport (in Swedish). 4 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Montlers jättehopp – nytt Finnkampsrekord". SVT Sport (in Swedish). 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Racewalking Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Finnkampen 2021 – Day 2 Results". World Athletics. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  12. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  14. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  15. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Finland-Sweden Athletics International 2019 Results". SF. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Finnkampen 2021 – Day 2 Results". World Athletics. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  18. ^ "2023 Finkampen – Women's Results". friidrott.elitetiming.se. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
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