The Flying Finn Burns Out

Sports History This Week

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1+ y ago 32:55

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January 6, 1925. Cigar smoke thickens the air inside Madison Square Garden. The New York City arena is packed to the brim, ready to watch the greatest runner in the world.

27-year-old Paavo Nurmi exploded onto the scene at the 1920 Olympics, winning three gold medals for Finland. In 1924, he did even better, winning five more. In the process, he became one of the world’s most famous athletes.

Today, Paavo Nurmi’s accomplishments have offered him the unique opportunity to go on a massive running tour of the United States. How does someone once considered a “slow trudger” outrun the world? And how does this grueling American tour change the course of his career?

Special thanks to our guests: Chris Turner, director of the heritage department of World Athletics; Roger Robinson, writer and author on the subject of long-distance running; Jari Salonen, CEO of the non-profit Paavo Nurmi Turku Oy; and Kalle Virtapohja, expert on Paavo Nurmi and sports history author.

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