Alvar Rantalahti

Alvar Rantalahti
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1938 Lahti 50 km

Alvar Rantalahti (July 29, 1913 – January 30, 2007) was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the late 1930s. He won a silver medal at the 1938 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in the 50 km.

In 1941, Rantalahti shot a Soviet prisoner of war who'd spoken back to him and resisted his commands. After the war, he went into hiding in northern Sweden, and remained in hiding until 1948. Rantalahti then came forward and was put on trial for the unlawful execution. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to one year in prison. He was pardoned by President Juho Kusti Paasikivi in 1950.[1]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).[2]

World Championships

  • 1 medal – (1 silver)
 Year   Age   18 km   50 km   4 × 10 km 
 relay 
1938 24 — Silver —

References

  1. ^ Uola, Mikko (2013-10-15). Unelma kommunistisesta Suomesta 1944-1953 (in Finnish). Minerva. pp. 238–239. ISBN 978-952-492-816-8.
  2. ^ "RANTALAHTI Alvar". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 29 January 2020.


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