Volmari Iso-Hollo
Encyclopedia
Volmari Fritijof Iso-Hollo (May 1, 1907 - June 23, 1969) was a Finnish
athlete, winner of two gold medals in 3000 m steeplechase at the Olympic Games
.
Born in Ylöjärvi
, Finland, Volmari Iso-Hollo was one of the last in a group of Finnish runners called the "Flying Finns
" who dominated distance running in the period between the World War
s.
As a youth, Iso-Hollo did skiing
, gymnastics
and boxing
and took up running as he joined the army. He was successful in wide range of events, running all the distances between 400 m and marathon.
Iso-Hollo won his first Olympic gold medal in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1932 Summer Olympics
. He was denied a chance at the world record
because the officials lost count of the number of laps, because the official lap-counter was looking the wrong way, being absorbed in the decathlon
pole vault. When Iso-Hollo went to his last lap, the official failed to ring the bell, and the entire field kept on running and so the finishing distance was 3460 m. If the distance were 3000 m, Iso-Hollo probably would have broken the world record. He also won the silver in the 10 000 m in Los Angeles
.
In 1933, Iso-Hollo broke the 3000 m steeplechase world record after all, running 9.09.4 in Lahti
and went to the 1936 Summer Olympics
as a hot favourite. At Berlin
, Iso-Hollo won the steeplechase by three seconds, finishing with a new world record of 9.03.8. The top three competitors all broke the existing world record. Iso-Hollo added a bronze in the 10 000 m to complete a set of Olympic medals.
After the Olympics, Iso-Hollo fell ill with rheumatism
, but kept on competing until 1945. Volmari Iso-Hollo died in Heinola
, Finland, aged 62.
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, winner of two gold medals in 3000 m steeplechase at the Olympic Games
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...
.
Born in Ylöjärvi
Ylöjärvi
Ylöjärvi is a town and a municipality in Western Finland located west of Tampere.The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The population has increased rapidly in recent years, in 1990 it was slightly over 18,000.Ylöjärvi was founded as...
, Finland, Volmari Iso-Hollo was one of the last in a group of Finnish runners called 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...
" who dominated distance running in the period between the World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s.
As a youth, Iso-Hollo did skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
and boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and took up running as he joined the army. He was successful in wide range of events, running all the distances between 400 m and marathon.
Iso-Hollo won his first Olympic gold medal in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
. He was denied a chance at the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
because the officials lost count of the number of laps, because the official lap-counter was looking the wrong way, being absorbed in the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
pole vault. When Iso-Hollo went to his last lap, the official failed to ring the bell, and the entire field kept on running and so the finishing distance was 3460 m. If the distance were 3000 m, Iso-Hollo probably would have broken the world record. He also won the silver in the 10 000 m in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
In 1933, Iso-Hollo broke the 3000 m steeplechase world record after all, running 9.09.4 in Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
and went to the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
as a hot favourite. At Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Iso-Hollo won the steeplechase by three seconds, finishing with a new world record of 9.03.8. The top three competitors all broke the existing world record. Iso-Hollo added a bronze in the 10 000 m to complete a set of Olympic medals.
After the Olympics, Iso-Hollo fell ill with rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
, but kept on competing until 1945. Volmari Iso-Hollo died in Heinola
Heinola
Heinola is a town and a municipality of inhabitants located in the Province of Southern Finland. Heinola is perhaps best known for its summer activities such as the Sauna-sitting World Championships.-History:...
, Finland, aged 62.