Running
The nickname was first used of Hannes Kolehmainen, also known as "Smiling Hannes", as he took home three gold medals and broke two world records during the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. As Finnish runners started to dominate long-distance running, the nickname was passed on to all successful Finns in the sport, including multi-Olympic gold medalists Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola. Nurmi won three gold medals at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Belgium and five at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he was partnered with Ritola, who ran to four gold medals. Volmari Iso-Hollo, the winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics, was one of the best-known Finnish runners in the 1930s and also nicknamed the Flying Finn. During his tour of the United States in 1940, Taisto Mäki - who held five world records - was regularly referred to as a Flying Finn. The last Flying Finn in running was Lasse Virén, who won the 5000 m and 10,000 m events at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
Read more about this topic: Flying Finn
Famous quotes containing the word running:
“I abide by a rule concerning reviews: I will never ask, neither in writing nor in person, that a word be put in about my book.... One feels cleaner this way. When someone asks that his book be reviewed he risks running up against a vulgarity offensive to authorial sensibilities.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“I never thought I’d have such a luxurious life. A healthy husband ... beautiful little girl ... Jacuzzi and beer and fruitbowl and Beethoven and Mendelssohn and running.... Running is the best thing. [Ellipses in original]”
—Miki Gorman (b. 1935)
“Boughs have their fruit and blossom
At all times of the year;
Rivers are running over
With red beer and brown beer.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)