Jouko Kuha
Encyclopedia
Jouko Santeri Kuha is a former Finnish
long-distance runner, who specialized for 3000 metres steeplechase
. In 1968 he broke the World record with his result 8:24.2.
in 1965 when he beat Bengt Persson with the Finnish record 8:37.6. In the same year he was ranked ninth at the annual ranking of Track and Field News.
At the 1966 European Championships
in Budapest
Kuha ran new Finnish record 8:36.2 in the heats, but that did not guaranteed him to qualify final. Kuha realized that in order to reach World top he is forced leave Finlands winter conditions and conduct his training in the warm countries during winter times. He was the first Finnish runner who started to train in the foreign countries and thus act as a trendsetter for later Finnish runners in their success in the 1970s.
In 1967 Kuha improved his Finnish record to 8:29.8 in Stockholm
, that was the season's second best time in the World after Gaston Roelants
. In the same year he won 3000 metres steeplechases at the Universiades
in Tokyo
. At the Track and Field News annual world ranking he was ranked fifth in 1967.
He prepared to summer 1968 in the village of Penedo
in Itatiaia
, Brazil
. In the World record race, 17 July in Stockholm
his 1000 metres lap-time was only 2:51.0, 1500 metres 4:17.2, and 2000 metres 5:43.2. However, Kuha was known for his fast final laps and again he sprinted to World record time 8:24.2, over 2 seconds faster than the previous record by Gaston Roelants
. Kuha knew that as a sea-level inhabitant he would not succeed at the High altitude of Mexico City
and therefore he did not travel to 1968 Summer Olympics
. At the Track and Field News annual world ranking he was ranked tenth in 1968.
Kuha's top season ended to Achilles tendon
surgery
in 1969. He continued his career at the national level and competed at the Finnish Championships in Athletics
still at the age of 40 in 1980.
logo. At that era this was against the amateur athletics rules.
Kuha did not earn big money during his career. One week after the World record race he competed in Joensuu
at the front of well over 6000 spectators. Kuha had agreeed his fee already in the previous spring to 600 Finnish markkas, which correspond to 824 Euro
s in 2008 currency.
During his career 1958-95 Kuha ran 3000 metres steeplechase 170 times. At the age 41 in 1981 he ran result 9:00.61 and at about two months prior his 50 years birthday in 1989 9:37.79.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
long-distance runner, who specialized for 3000 metres steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
. In 1968 he broke the World record with his result 8:24.2.
Career
Kuha international breakthrough was at the Finland-Sweden athletics internationalFinland-Sweden athletics international
Finnkampen , Suomi-Ruotsi-maaottelu or Ruotsi-ottelu , is a yearly athletics international competition held between Sweden and Finland since 1925.It is, since the late 1980s, the only annual athletics...
in 1965 when he beat Bengt Persson with the Finnish record 8:37.6. In the same year he was ranked ninth at the annual ranking of Track and Field News.
At the 1966 European Championships
1966 European Championships in Athletics
The 8th European Athletics Championships were held from 30 August to 4 September 1966 in the Nép Stadium in Budapest, Hungary.-Men's results:-Women's results:-Medal table:- References :* *...
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
Kuha ran new Finnish record 8:36.2 in the heats, but that did not guaranteed him to qualify final. Kuha realized that in order to reach World top he is forced leave Finlands winter conditions and conduct his training in the warm countries during winter times. He was the first Finnish runner who started to train in the foreign countries and thus act as a trendsetter for later Finnish runners in their success in the 1970s.
In 1967 Kuha improved his Finnish record to 8:29.8 in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, that was the season's second best time in the World after Gaston Roelants
Gaston Roelants
Gaston, Baron Roelants was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.Roelants was born in...
. In the same year he won 3000 metres steeplechases at the Universiades
1967 Summer Universiade
The 1967 Summer Universiade, also known as the V Summer Universiade, took place in Tokyo, Japan.Eastern Bloc countries including Soviet Union, Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Cuba, Czechoslovakia and North Korea boycotted the Games due to the naming diputes on North Korea.-Medal table:-Sports...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. At the Track and Field News annual world ranking he was ranked fifth in 1967.
He prepared to summer 1968 in the village of Penedo
Penedo (Itatiaia)
Penedo is a district in the Itatiaia municipality, located in the southern region of Rio de Janeiro state, in Brazil. It is the first Finnish colony in Brazil, and some Finnish influence can still be noticed in some houses, and commercial buildings, as well as in the local culture....
in Itatiaia
Itatiaia
Itatiaia is a Brazilian municipality of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is located at an altitude of 390 meters. Its population was 30,168 and its area is 224.96 km²....
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. In the World record race, 17 July in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
his 1000 metres lap-time was only 2:51.0, 1500 metres 4:17.2, and 2000 metres 5:43.2. However, Kuha was known for his fast final laps and again he sprinted to World record time 8:24.2, over 2 seconds faster than the previous record by Gaston Roelants
Gaston Roelants
Gaston, Baron Roelants was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.Roelants was born in...
. Kuha knew that as a sea-level inhabitant he would not succeed at the High altitude of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and therefore he did not travel to 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
. At the Track and Field News annual world ranking he was ranked tenth in 1968.
Kuha's top season ended to Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in 1969. He continued his career at the national level and competed at the Finnish Championships in Athletics
Finnish Championships in Athletics
The Finnish Championships in Athletics, which are known as Kalevan kisat in Finnish, were first held in Tampere in 1907. Since then, they have been held in a different location every year...
still at the age of 40 in 1980.
Trivia
Kuha's World record was threatened to be disqualified, because competition organizers provided bib numbers with BPBP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
logo. At that era this was against the amateur athletics rules.
Kuha did not earn big money during his career. One week after the World record race he competed in Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
at the front of well over 6000 spectators. Kuha had agreeed his fee already in the previous spring to 600 Finnish markkas, which correspond to 824 Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s in 2008 currency.
During his career 1958-95 Kuha ran 3000 metres steeplechase 170 times. At the age 41 in 1981 he ran result 9:00.61 and at about two months prior his 50 years birthday in 1989 9:37.79.