Hannes Kolehmainen facts for kids
Hannes Kolehmainen in 1920
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 9 December 1889 Kuopio, Finland |
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| Died | 11 January 1966 (aged 76) Helsinki, Finland |
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| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 57 kg (126 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Helsingin Jyry FAAC, New York |
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Medal record
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Juho Pietari "Hannes" Kolehmainen (born December 9, 1889 – died January 11, 1966) was a famous Finnish runner. He won four Olympic gold medals during his career. He also set many world records in middle and long-distance running events.
Hannes Kolehmainen was the first of many great Finnish long-distance runners. These athletes were often called the "Flying Finns" because of their speed. Kolehmainen also lived and competed in the United States for several years.
Contents
Early Life and Olympic Success
Hannes Kolehmainen was born in Kuopio, Finland. He came from a family of athletes. His brothers, William and Tatu, were also strong long-distance runners. Hannes worked as a bricklayer and was known for being a vegetarian.
His biggest success came at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. He won three gold medals at these Games.
The Famous 5000 Metre Race
One of his most exciting wins was in the 5000 metre race. He ran a thrilling race against Frenchman Jean Bouin. They led the race together for a long time. In the very last metres, Kolehmainen pulled ahead. He won the race and set a new world record.
Kolehmainen also won the 10,000 metre race. He took home another gold in the individual cross country event. This event is no longer part of the Olympics. With the Finnish team, he also earned a silver medal in the team cross country event.
Later Career and Marathon Gold
Hannes Kolehmainen's running career was paused by World War I. But he remained a top athlete. After the war, he focused on longer races, especially the marathon.
At the first Olympics after the war, the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, he showed his skill. He won the gold medal in the marathon event. He tried to compete in the Olympic marathon again in 1924 but did not finish the race.
Lighting the Olympic Flame
By the 1920s, another amazing Finnish runner, Paavo Nurmi, had become famous. Nurmi was also a "Flying Finn." In 1952, Kolehmainen had a special honor. He helped light the Olympic Flame at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. He was the final person in the torch relay, passing the flame to Nurmi.
Hannes Kolehmainen passed away in Helsinki fourteen years later, in 1966.
See also
In Spanish: Hannes Kolehmainen para niños
