Matti Järvinen facts for kids

Matti Järvinen at the 1932 Olympics
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	18 February 1909 Tampere, Finland
Died	22 July 1985 (aged 76) Helsinki, Finland
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
Sport	Javelin throw
Club	Kerkkoon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat Helsingin Kisa-Veikot
Medal record Representing  Finland Olympic Games Gold 1932 Los Angeles Javelin throw European Championships Gold 1934 Turin Javelin throw Gold 1938 Paris Javelin throw

Matti Henrikki Järvinen (born February 18, 1909 – died July 22, 1985) was a famous Finnish javelin thrower. He was known for his incredible strength and skill in throwing the javelin. Matti won a gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics. He also broke the world record many times!

Matti Järvinen: A Javelin Legend

Matti Järvinen was a true champion in javelin throwing. At the 1932 Summer Olympics, he won the gold medal. Two other Finnish athletes, Matti Sippala and Eino Penttilä, won silver and bronze. Matti's winning throw was an amazing 72.71 meters. Even four of his other throws in that competition would have been good enough for gold!

Breaking World Records

Matti Järvinen was famous for setting many world records. Between 1930 and 1936, he broke the javelin throw world record ten times in a row. This is a record for breaking records! He also became the European champion in 1934. At that event, he set a new world record of 76.66 meters. He won the European title again in 1938. In the 1936 Summer Olympics, Matti finished fifth. He continued to throw the javelin even after World War II. In 1945, he still managed a throw of 71.70 meters.

A Family of Athletes

Matti came from a very athletic family. His father, Verner Järvinen, won an Olympic bronze medal in discus throw. Matti's brother, Akilles Järvinen, was a world record holder in decathlon. Akilles also won two Olympic silver medals. Another brother, Kalle, was a shot putter and an Olympian too. It was truly a family of champions!

His Legacy

To remember Matti Järvinen's amazing achievement, the exact distance of his gold-winning throw was used. The Helsinki Olympic Stadium was built to be 72.71 meters tall. This was a special way to honor his Olympic gold medal.

World War II and Beyond

During World War II, in 1939, Matti Järvinen served in the military. He was with another javelin thrower, Yrjö Nikkanen. They helped train soldiers in throwing hand grenades. After the war, Matti became a successful economic advisor.

Amazing World Records List

Here are the world records Matti Järvinen set: