Tapio Rautavaara's Archery Wrist Pad

This wrist pad was used by Tapio Rautavaara. He was the Olympic javelin throw champion from London 1948 and even better known in Finland as a popular singer and film star. After finishing his javelin career in the early 1950’s Rautavaara took up archery. He won his first Finnish championship title in 1955 and crowned his second sports career with World Champonship gold in team competition in Brussels 1958. The leather pad protects the archer’s wrist from impact of the released string.