 Salminen at the 1936 Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 21 September 1902 Elimäki, Finland, Russian Empire | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 January 1986 (aged 83) Kouvola, Finland | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 5000 m, 10000 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Kouvolan Urheilijat | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 5000 m – 14:22.0 (1939) 10000 m – 30:05.5 (1937) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Ilmari R. Salminen (21 September 1902 – 5 January 1986) was a Finnish long-distance runner, winner of the 10,000 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Salminen became one of the best long-distance runners in the 1930s when he began his international athletics career in 1934 by winning the 10,000 m and taking bronze in 5000 m at the first European Championships in Turin, thus becoming a main favorite at the Olympic 10,000 m run.
On the first day of competitions in the Berlin Olympics, Salminen won the 10,000 m final before compatriots Arvo Askola and Volmari Iso-Hollo. Salminen managed to hold off Askola by a margin of 0.2 seconds. In the 5000 m final a few days later, Salminen finished in sixth place.
In the next season, Salminen ran a new 10,000 m world record of 30:05.6. He also ran a new world record in six miles. Salminen finished his international career by winning the gold medal in 10,000 m at the 1938 European Championships and retired from athletics after the next season. He later became a sports official and headed the organizing committee of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
References
- ^ Ilmari Salminen Archived 11 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
- Ilmari Salminen. trackfield.brinkster.net
| Records | ||
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Preceded by Paavo Nurmi
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Men's 10,000 m World Record Holder 18 July 1937 – 29 September 1938 |
Succeeded by Taisto Mäki
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| Olympic champions in men's 5 miles and 10,000 metres | |
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| 5 miles |
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| 10,000 metres |
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| European Athletics Championships champions in men's 10,000 metres | |
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- 1902 births
- 1986 deaths
- People from Elimäki
- Sportspeople from Kouvola
- Sportspeople from Uusimaa Province (Grand Duchy of Finland)
- Finnish male long-distance runners
- Olympic athletes for Finland
- Olympic gold medalists for Finland
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- World record setters in athletics (track and field)
- European Athletics Championships medalists
- Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field)
- 20th-century Finnish sportsmen