Ville Ritola
Encyclopedia
Vilho Eino Ritola (18 January 1896 – 24 April 1982) was a Finnish
athlete, specialised in the long distance events
. In the 1920s, he won 8 Olympic
medals. He was internationally known as one of the "Flying Finns
".
Born in Peräseinäjoki
, Finland, Ville Ritola, nickname
d as Peräseinäjoen Susi (The Wolf from Peräseinäjoki), emigrated to United States
at the age of 17, to join his seven siblings, who had emigrated earlier.
In the United States, Ritola joined the Finnish-American Athletic Club and trained together with Hannes Kolehmainen
, who had moved to the United States after the 1912 Summer Olympics
. Kolehmainen tried to convince young Ritola to join the Finnish 1920 Summer Olympics
team, but Ritola said, he wasn't ready yet.
But he was ready at the 1924 Paris Olympics
by winning four gold medals and two silver medals. In his first race, the 10 000 m, in absence of Paavo Nurmi
, he won by half a lap and obliterated his own world record by more than 12 second
s. Three days later, he won the 3000 m steeplechase by 75 metres. The next day he finished second behind Nurmi in the 5000 m. Next he earned another silver medal behind Nurmi in the cross-country race and gained a gold medal as a member of the Finnish cross-country team. Finally, Ritola joined with Nurmi to win the 3000 m team race.
In the 1928 Summer Olympics
, Ritola placed second in the 10 000 m, behind Nurmi. His last Olympic appearance was in the 5000 m. This time Ritola pulled away from Nurmi in the final curve and won by 12 metres. This victory brought Ritola's career total to five gold medals and three silver medals.
Ritola never competed in the Finnish Nationals, but won a handful of medals in AAU
Championships in United States. He was the AAU champion at 6 miles (9.7 km) in 1927, at 10 miles (16.1 km) road race in 1922, 1923 and from 1925 to 1927, at 2000 yd (1,828.8 m) steeplechase in 1923, 1926 and 1927 and at cross county in 1922, 1923 and from 1925 to 1927.
Ville Ritola retired from athletics after the 1928 Olympic Games. He moved back to Finland in 1971. Ville Ritola died in Helsinki
at the age of 86.
Ritola's career inspired a phrase
into colloquial Finnish
. "Ottaa ritolat", translating as something like "pull a Ritola", means to make a quick exit from somewhere.
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...
athlete, specialised in the long distance events
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
. In the 1920s, he won 8 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals. He was internationally known as one of the "Flying Finns
Flying Finn (athlete)
"The Flying Finn" is a nickname given to several Finnish athletes. Originally, it was given to several Finnish middle and long-distance runners...
".
Born in Peräseinäjoki
Peräseinäjoki
Peräseinäjoki is a former municipality of Finland.It was located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 3,653 and covered an area of 459.13 km² of which 14.11 km² was water. The population density was 8.2...
, Finland, Ville Ritola, nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d as Peräseinäjoen Susi (The Wolf from Peräseinäjoki), emigrated to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the age of 17, to join his seven siblings, who had emigrated earlier.
In the United States, Ritola joined the Finnish-American Athletic Club and trained together with Hannes Kolehmainen
Hannes Kolehmainen
Juho Pietari "Hannes" Kolehmainen was a Finnish long-distance runner. He is considered to be the first of a generation of great Finnish long distance runners, often named the "Flying Finns". Kolehmainen competed for a number of years in the United States, wearing the Winged Fist of the Irish...
, who had moved to the United States after the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
. Kolehmainen tried to convince young Ritola to join the Finnish 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
team, but Ritola said, he wasn't ready yet.
But he was ready at the 1924 Paris Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
by winning four gold medals and two silver medals. In his first race, the 10 000 m, in absence of Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
, he won by half a lap and obliterated his own world record by more than 12 second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
s. Three days later, he won the 3000 m steeplechase by 75 metres. The next day he finished second behind Nurmi in the 5000 m. Next he earned another silver medal behind Nurmi in the cross-country race and gained a gold medal as a member of the Finnish cross-country team. Finally, Ritola joined with Nurmi to win the 3000 m team race.
In the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
, Ritola placed second in the 10 000 m, behind Nurmi. His last Olympic appearance was in the 5000 m. This time Ritola pulled away from Nurmi in the final curve and won by 12 metres. This victory brought Ritola's career total to five gold medals and three silver medals.
Ritola never competed in the Finnish Nationals, but won a handful of medals in AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Championships in United States. He was the AAU champion at 6 miles (9.7 km) in 1927, at 10 miles (16.1 km) road race in 1922, 1923 and from 1925 to 1927, at 2000 yd (1,828.8 m) steeplechase in 1923, 1926 and 1927 and at cross county in 1922, 1923 and from 1925 to 1927.
Ville Ritola retired from athletics after the 1928 Olympic Games. He moved back to Finland in 1971. Ville Ritola died in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
at the age of 86.
Ritola's career inspired a phrase
Phrase
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words which form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause....
into colloquial Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
. "Ottaa ritolat", translating as something like "pull a Ritola", means to make a quick exit from somewhere.