Education
He finished fourth in the javelin throw at the 1920 Olympics.
athletics competitor javelin thrower
He finished fourth in the javelin throw at the 1920 Olympics.
Saaristo was born to Kaarlo Saaristo (Lindholm) and Wilhelmina Lindberg. After graduating in mechanical and electrical engineering, in 1915 he enlisted to the German Army and was assigned to the 27th Jäger Battalion. He fought in World War I on the Eastern Front at the Misa River and the Gulf of Riga.
On 25 February 1918 he returned to Finland and took part in the ongoing Finnish Civil War as a commanding officer
He then continued serving with the Finnish Army, fought in World World War II, and was retired after it ended. He died of a throat cancer, though he was not a smoker himself.
In 1928 Saaristo married Olga Lydia Honkanen, they had two sons and an adopted daughter.