Olavi Suomalainen
Encyclopedia
Heikki Olavi Suomalainen (born March 27, 1947 in Sääminki
, Finland
) is a former Finnish
marathon
runner. He won Boston Marathon
in 1972 by 18 seconds margin to Víctor Mora
. In 1973 he finished third at the same race.
During his career Olavi Suomalainen suffered from injuries and failed to qualify to the Summer Olympics or European Championships in Athletics
. He took the bronze medal at the Finnish Championship Marathon in the Olympic years 1972 and 1976. However, in 1976 gold medalist Håkan Spik, silver medalist Jukka Toivola
, and Lasse Virén
were nominated to the Olympic Marathon
.
Suomalainens winning time 2:15:39 at the 1972's Boston Marathon
remained as his personal best. Olavi Suomalainen is a Master of Science
in Engineering
.
Savonlinna
Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "Newcastle".- History :...
, Finland
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...
) is a former Finnish
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...
marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
runner. He won Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 1972 by 18 seconds margin to Víctor Mora
Víctor Mora (athlete)
Víctor Manuel Mora García is a retired long-distance runner from Colombia. He won the gold medal in the men's 5.000 metres event at the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games, and competed for his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1972 .-References:*...
. In 1973 he finished third at the same race.
During his career Olavi Suomalainen suffered from injuries and failed to qualify to the Summer Olympics or European Championships in Athletics
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
. He took the bronze medal at the Finnish Championship Marathon in the Olympic years 1972 and 1976. However, in 1976 gold medalist Håkan Spik, silver medalist Jukka Toivola
Jukka Toivola
Jukka Olavi Toivola was a male long-distance runner and teacher of chemistry from Finland.Born in Liperi, North Karelia, Toivola represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in the men's marathon, finishing in 27th place...
, and Lasse Virén
Lasse Virén
Lasse Artturi Virén is a former Finnish long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics...
were nominated to the Olympic Marathon
Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's Marathon
The official results of the Men's Marathon at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, held on Saturday July 31, 1976. The race started on 17.30h local time. A total number of sixty athletes completed the race, with Lucio Guachalla from Bolivia finishing in last position in 2:45:31. There were...
.
Suomalainens winning time 2:15:39 at the 1972's Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
remained as his personal best. Olavi Suomalainen is a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing 1972 Boston Marathon Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...Boston, United States 1st 2:15:39
External links
- Report from the Boston Marathon 1972 by Boston Globe
- Tilastopaja profile for Olavi Suomalainen (in Finnish)