Portal:Sport of athletics/Selected biography/16
Paavo Johannes Nurmi(Finnish pronunciation:[ˈpɑːʋoˈnurmi];13 June 1897 – 2 October 1973) was aFinnishmiddle-distanceandlong-distance runner.He was called the "Flying Finn"or the" Phantom Finn "because he dominated distance running in the 1920s. Nurmi set 22 officialworld recordsat distances between1,500 metresand 20 kilometres, and won nine gold and three silver medals in his 12 events in the SummerOlympic Games.At his peak, Nurmi was undefeated for 121 races at distances from800 mupwards. Throughout his 14-year career, he remained unbeaten in cross country events and the10,000 metres.
Born into a working-class family, Nurmi left school at the age of 12 to provide for his family. In 1912, he was inspired by the Olympic feats ofHannes Kolehmainenand began developing a strict training program. Nurmi started to flourish during his military service, settingFinnish records in athleticsen route to his international debut at the1920 Summer Olympics.After winning a silver medal in the5,000 m,he won gold in the 10,000 m and thecross countryevents. In 1923, Nurmi became the first runner to hold simultaneous world records in the mile, the 5,000 m and the 10,000 m races, a feat which has never been repeated. He set new world records for the 1,500 m and the 5,000 m with just an hour between the races, and took gold medals in both distances in less than two hours at the1924 Summer Olympics.Seemingly unaffected by the Parisheat wave,Nurmi won all his races and returned home with five gold medals, although he was frustrated that Finnish officials had refused to enter him for the 10,000 m.
Struggling with injuries and motivation issues after his exhaustive U.S. tour in 1925, Nurmi found his long-time rivals compatriotVille Ritolaand Sweden'sEdvin Wideever more serious challengers. At the1928 Summer Olympics,Nurmi recaptured the 10,000 m title but was beaten for the gold in the 5,000 m and the3,000 m steeplechase.He then turned his attention to longer distances, breaking the world records for events such as theone hour runand the 25-mile marathon. Nurmi intended to end his career with a marathon gold medal, as his idol Kolehmainen had done. In a controversial case that strainedFinland–Sweden relationsand sparked an inter-IAAFbattle, Nurmi was suspended before the 1932 Games by an IAAF council that questioned his amateur status; two days before the opening ceremonies, the council rejected his entries. Although he was never declared a professional, Nurmi's suspension became definite in 1934 and he retired from running.
Nurmi later coached Finnish runners, raised funds for Finland during theWinter War,and worked as ahaberdasher,building contractor,andstock trader,becoming one of the richest people in Finland. In 1952, he was thelighter of the Olympic Flameat theSummer Olympicsin Helsinki. Nurmi's running speed and elusive personality spawned nicknames such as the "Phantom Finn", while his achievements, training methods and running style influenced future generations of middle- and long-distance runners. Nurmi, who rarely ran without a stopwatch in his hand, has been credited with introducing the "even pace" strategy and analytic approach to running, and for making running a major international sport. (Full article...)
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