Ale Riipinen
Heikki Aleksi "Ale" Riipinen was a Finnish gymnast who won bronze in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Gymnastics
He won the Finnish national championship in team gymnastics as a member of Ylioppilasvoimistelijat in 1909.Career
He completed his matriculation exam at the Jyväskylä Classical Lyceum in 1903 and graduated as a physical education teacher in 1908.He worked as a school teacher in Lapua from 1908–1927, becoming also a rector. Then, he worked as a lecturer in Jyväskylä from 1927 to 1948. Finally, he returned to Lapua to teach until 1951.
He also wrote on physical education and other subjects in Suomen Urheilulehti and other papers.
He was the chairman of the state taxation board in Lapua in 1923–1927.
Military
He served in the White Guard as a platoon leader and a company commander during the Finnish Civil War. He was a garrison commandant in the Finnish Defence Forcesand a chief of office of a White Guard district during the Second World War. He reached the rank of lieutenant.
Politics
He played a small part in initiating the namesake action of the Lapua Movement, although it is unknown if he actually participated in it.Accolades
He received the following honorary awards:- Cross of Liberty, 4th Class
- The cross of merit of the Civil Guards
- Medals of the Finnish Civil War:
- * The commemorative medal of the capture of Tampere
- * The Vilppula cross
- Decorations of the heimosodat:
- * The commemorative medal of Carelia
Family
His parents were farmer Mikko Riipinen and Iida Manninen.He married Hilja Miklin-Metsäpolku in 1911. They had two children:
- Heljä Kaarina, born 1912, died 1926
- Anna Pirkko Sätene, born 1920, died 1964