Lasse Viren

Lasse Viren

Finnish long distance runner
Date of Birth: 22.07.1949
Country: Finland

Content:
  1. Lasse Virén: Legendary Finnish Long-Distance Runner
  2. Olympic Dominance
  3. World Record Breaker
  4. 2 miles: 8:14.0
  5. European Championship Medalist
  6. Philatelic Tribute

Lasse Virén: Legendary Finnish Long-Distance Runner

Lasse Virén, a renowned Finnish long-distance runner, holds the distinction of being a four-time Olympic champion. His remarkable achievements include winning the 5000 and 10,000-meter events in both the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.

Olympic Dominance

Virén made history at the 1972 Olympics in Munich by not only winning both the 5000 and 10,000-meter races but also setting a world record in the latter event with a time of 27:38.4. He repeated this extraordinary feat at the 1976 Montreal Games, becoming the first runner to win both distances at two consecutive Olympic Games. Only Mo Farah would match this accomplishment four decades later.

World Record Breaker

Beyond his Olympic success, Virén also established three world records:

2 miles: 8:14.0

5000 meters: 13:16.4
10,000 meters: 27:38.4

His world record in the 10,000 meters, set in 1972, stood for nearly five years.

European Championship Medalist

In addition to his Olympic triumphs, Virén secured a bronze medal in the 5000-meter event at the 1974 European Athletics Championships.

Philatelic Tribute

Lasse Virén's achievements have been recognized in philately. On October 31, 1976, Mongolia's postal service issued a series of postage stamps depicting the legendary runner. Stamp No. 1023, with a denomination of 80 mongo, features an image of Virén. This philatelic tribute serves as a testament to his exceptional contributions to the sport of athletics.

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