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Paavo Johannes Nurmi (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈpɑːʋo ˈnurmi] ⓘ; 13 June 1897 – 2 October 1973) was a Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner. He was called the "Flying Finn" or the "Phantom Finn" because he dominated distance running in the 1920s.
Paavo Nurmi (born June 13, 1897, Turku, Finland—died October 2, 1973, Helsinki) was a Finnish track athlete who dominated long-distance running in the 1920s, capturing nine gold medals in three Olympic Games (1920, 1924, and 1928) as well as three silvers.
Nov 1, 2020 · Even before the Olympic Games Paris 1924, Finland’s Paavo Nurmi was considered one the greatest distance runners of all time. Four years beforehand at the Antwerp Games, Nurmi had achieved a breathtaking treble by winning gold in the 10,000m, cross-country race and team cross-country events.
The Olympic Games at Antwerp made Paavo Nurmi a star in Finland, a worthy successor of Hannes Kolehmainen. His first Olympic race, the 5000 metres, ended in bitter defeat to Joseph Guillemot of France. This was to be the only time that Nurmi lost in an Olympic final to a foreign runner, however.
At the 1924 Paris Games, Nurmi made history by becoming the first athlete ever to win five gold medals at a single Olympic Games. In the space of four astonishing days, Nurmi won the 1500m, the 5,000m, the 3,000m team event and the two cross-country events.
Paavo Johannes Nurmi ( Finnish pronunciation: [ ˈpɑːʋo ˈnurmi] ⓘ; 13 June 1897 – 2 October 1973) was a Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner. He was called the "Flying Finn" or the "Phantom Finn" because he dominated distance running in the 1920s.
Finland middle-distance runner Paavo Nurmi won an incredible 9 gold medals in the 1920s Olympic games and is still a legend in his homeland.