Veli Saarinen facts for kids
Saarinen in the 1930s
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 16 September 1902 Martinsaari, Finland |
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| Died | 12 October 1969 (aged 67) Helsinki, Finland |
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| Height | 173 cm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Cross-country skiing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Kouvolan Hiihtoseura Lahden Hiihtoseura |
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Medal record
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Veli Selim Saarinen (born September 16, 1902 – died October 12, 1969) was a famous Finnish cross-country skier. He competed in the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1932. Veli Saarinen was the first Finnish cross-country skier to win an Olympic gold medal.
He achieved great success in his career. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, he won six medals. These included three gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal.
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Veli Saarinen's Early Career
Veli Saarinen was born in Martinsaari, Finland. He became a skilled cross-country skier. In 1928, he took part in his first Winter Olympics. He competed in the 18-kilometer race and finished in fourth place. This was a strong start to his Olympic journey.
Olympic Achievements
Four years later, Veli Saarinen went to the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. This was a very successful event for him.
- He won a gold medal in the challenging 50-kilometer race.
- He also earned a bronze medal in the 18-kilometer race.
Winning the gold medal made him a national hero. He was the first Finnish cross-country skier to achieve this Olympic gold.
Olympic Race Results
Here are Veli Saarinen's results from the Olympic Games:
| Year | Age | 18 km | 50 km |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 25 | 4 | — |
| 1932 | 29 | Bronze | Gold |
World Championship Success
Veli Saarinen's biggest achievements came at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. He won a total of six medals there.
- In 1929, he won gold in the 17 km race.
- In 1933, he won another gold in the 50 km race.
- In 1934, he was part of the team that won gold in the 4 × 10 km relay.
He also earned two silver medals and one bronze medal at these championships.
World Championship Race Results
Here are Veli Saarinen's results from the World Championships:
| Year | Age | 17 km | 18 km | 30 km | 50 km | 4 × 10 km relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 23 | N/A | N/A | Bronze | 9 | N/A |
| 1929 | 26 | Gold | N/A | N/A | Silver | N/A |
| 1930 | 27 | 5 | N/A | N/A | 6 | N/A |
| 1933 | 30 | N/A | 4 | N/A | Gold | — |
| 1934 | 31 | N/A | Silver | N/A | — | Gold |
Life After Competing
Veli Saarinen retired from competitive skiing in 1934. He then became a coach, sharing his knowledge with new generations of skiers.
- From 1934 to 1937, he coached the German national cross-country skiing team.
- From 1937 to 1968, he coached the Finnish national team.
He also played an important role in managing the sport. From 1947 to 1968, he was the chief executive of the Finnish Skiing Federation. Veli Saarinen passed away in 1969 at the age of 67. He is remembered as a pioneer in Finnish cross-country skiing.
