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Lauri Lehtinen

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For the Finnish sports sailor, see Lauri Lehtinen (sailor). For the Finnish footballer, see Lauri Lehtinen (footballer).
Lauri Lehtinen
Lauri Lehtinen in 1931
Personal information
Born10 August 1908
Kerkkoo, Porvoo, Finland
Died4 December 1973 (aged 65)
Helsinki, Finland
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event1500–10000 m
ClubHT, Helsinki
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m – 3:55.5 (1931)
5000 m – 14:16.9 (1932)
10000 m – 30:15.0 (1937)[1][2]
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1932 Los Angeles 5000 m
Silver medal – second place 1936 Berlin 5000 m

Lauri Aleksanteri Lehtinen (10 August 1908[3] – 4 December 1973) was a Finnish long-distance runner and the winner of a controversial 5000 m race at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Lehtinen set a new world record in the 5000 m (14:17.0) just a month before the Olympics, making him a leading favorite for the Olympic 5000 m title. In the final, Lehtinen and fellow Finn Lauri Virtanen led the race early, eventually distancing themselves from all competitors except Ralph Hill of the United States. The race soon became a duel between Lehtinen and Hill. On the last lap, Hill attempted to overtake Lehtinen, who blocked him by zig-zagging across lanes—a common tactic in Europe but unfamiliar to the American audience, who responded with boos. Lehtinen narrowly won by 50 centimeters, with both runners recording identical times of 14:30.0. Hill declined to protest the result. This remains the only Olympic race longer than 200 meters where the top two finishers recorded identical times.[1][4]

Lehtinen won the British AAA Championships title in the 3-mile event at the 1933 AAA Championships.[5][6][7]

At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Lehtinen attempted to defend his title but finished second to fellow Finn Gunnar Höckert.[1]

In 1940, Lehtinen donated his Los Angeles gold medal to a soldier who had served with distinction on the Karelian Isthmus. This gesture honored Höckert, who was killed in action on the Isthmus.[1]

In the village of Kerkkoo in Porvoo, a road is named in his honor: "Lauri Lehtisen Tie."

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Lauri Lehtinen. sports-reference.com
  2. ^ Lauri Lehtinen. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. ^ Martti Jukola (1932). Athletics in Finland. W. Söderström osakeyhtiö, Porvoo. p. 71.
  4. ^ Athletics at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games: Men's 5,000 metres. sports-reference.com
  5. ^ "Amateur titles contested". Gloucestershire Echo. 8 July 1933. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Finn's brilliant 3 miles: Our athletes shine". Daily Herald. 10 July 1933. Retrieved 11 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
[edit]
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Records
Preceded by Men's 5000 m World Record Holder
19 June 1932 – 16 June 1939 		Succeeded by
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