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Paavo NurmiFinnish middle and long distance runner
Date of Birth: 13.07.1897
Country:  Finland |
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Paavo Nurmi - The Flying Finn
Paavo Nurmi, known as "The Flying Finn," was a Finnish middle and long-distance runner. He is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, with nine Olympic gold medals and a total of twelve Olympic medals, the most in the history of track and field. He was born in Turku, Finland and showed his talent at a young age, becoming the school champion at the age of 13.
Early Success
In 21 years, Nurmi won a 20-kilometer race at an army competition with a half-hour lead. He made his debut on the sports arena in 1920 at the Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Although he lost his first event, the 5000-meter race, to Joseph Guillemot of France, Nurmi had a chance to redeem himself in the 10,000-meter race and emerged victorious.
Olympic Dominance
In the 1920 Olympics, Nurmi won two more gold medals in the individual and team cross country events. From 1921 to 1924, he set 24 world records in distances ranging from 1500 meters to 20 kilometers. In the 1924 Olympics, Nurmi continued his dominance, winning two gold medals in the 1500-meter and 5000-meter races. Despite a controversy over the selection of the Finnish team, Nurmi ran for himself, proving to the world that he was the best distance runner.
Legacy and Controversy
Nurmi won three more gold medals and two silver medals at the 1928 Olympics, but his career came to a halt in 1932 when he was deemed a professional athlete and banned from competing in the Los Angeles Olympics. Despite this setback, Nurmi was honored with the privilege of lighting the Olympic flame at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. A statue was erected in his honor in his hometown, but in his later years, Nurmi admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, although it did not affect his official international records. He passed away, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable athletic achievements.
