🏃 Running · Distance

Paavo Nurmi

Finland · 1920–1934

Nine Olympic golds, and raced with a stopwatch in his hand.

9
Olympic golds: 12
Olympic medals: 22
World records: 2
Golds in one hour

Career

The Flying Finn won nine Olympic titles and set twenty-two official world records, running to precise splits he checked on a stopwatch mid-race — an approach to pacing nobody had systematised before. He won the 1500 m and 5000 m within an hour of each other in 1924.

Honours

Nine Olympic gold medals across three Games
Won the 1500 m and 5000 m within an hour, 1924
Twenty-two official world records
Unbeaten over cross-country for his entire career

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