Lasse Virén
Finnish distance runner who won four Olympic gold medals.
Lasse Artturi Virén was born on 22 July 1949. He is a Finnish former long-distance runner who earned four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Virén revived the "Flying Finn" tradition from the 1920s, associated with runners such as Hannes Kolehmainen, Paavo Nurmi, and Ville Ritola. He was named Finnish Sportsman of the Year in 1972 and 1976, and later served as a member of Finland's parliament from 1999 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2011.
Virén started his running career in the United States at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he ran for the varsity cross-country team for one season before returning to Finland. A police officer from Myrskylä, he made his international debut in 1971. At the 1971 European Championships in Helsinki, fellow Finn Juha Väätäinen won gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, while Virén finished seventh and 17th, respectively. According to Virén and his coach Rolf Haikkola, he could have placed better if he had performed an "emptying exercise"—pushing his body to total exhaustion to restore energy—earlier, and if he had not been nearly pushed over at the start of the last lap of the 5,000 metres final. Haikkola said Virén followed bad advice from Finnish Athletics Federation leaders. In 1972, Virén broke Väätäinen's Finnish record in the 5,000 metres.
After a brutal training regimen in Thomson's Falls, Kenya, and strong results—including breaking the two-mile world record and winning against Great Britain and Spain in Helsinki in summer 1972—Virén entered the Munich Olympics as a dark horse.
At the 1972 Munich Games, Virén won both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. In the 10,000 metres final on 3 September, he broke Ron Clarke's seven-year-old world record despite falling in the twelfth lap after tangling with Emiel Puttemans. Mohamed Gammoudi also fell after being tripped by Virén's legs. Within 150 metres, Virén caught the leading pack after losing about 20 metres. With 600 metres left, he launched a long kick, and only Puttemans could respond. Virén won in 27:38.35. He became the fourth athlete to win both events at the same Olympics, after Hannes Kolehmainen (1912), Emil Zátopek (1952), and Vladimir Kuts (1956). Later, Miruts Yifter (1980), Kenenisa Bekele (2008), and Mo Farah (2012 and 2016) also achieved this double. Only Kolehmainen, Virén, and Yifter had to run 10,000
- born
- 22 July 1949
- field
- Long-distance running
- nationality
- Finnish
- known_for
- Four Olympic gold medals (5,000 m and 10,000 m doubles in 1972 and 1976)
Quick Facts
- Full Name
- Lasse Artturi Virén
- Nationality
- Finnish
- Sport
- Athletics/Track, Long-distance running
- Event
- 5000 metres, 10,000 metres, Marathon
- Club
- Myrskylän Myrsky
- Birth Date
- df=yes · 1949 · 7 · 22
- Birth Place
- Myrskylä, Finland
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 60 kg
- Olympics
- 1972 Munich / 10,000 m, / 5000 m, / 1976 Montreal / 10,000 m, / 5000 m, / Marathon, 5th / 1980 Moscow / 10,000 m, 5th
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lasse Virén began his running career in the United States at Brigham Young University, running on the Varsity Cross-Country team for one season before returning to Finland. A police officer from Myrskylä, he debuted internationally in 1971, but his performances at the European Championships in Helsinki were overshadowed by fellow Finn Juha Väätäinen. In 1972, Virén broke Väätäinen's Finnish record at 5,000 metres. Buoyed by a brutal training regimen in Thomson's Falls, Kenya, and impressive results including a 2-mile world record, he entered the 1972 Munich Games as a dark horse.
At the 1972 Olympics, Virén won both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres events. In the 10,000 metres final, he broke Ron Clarke's world record despite falling in the twelfth lap after getting tangled with Emiel Puttemans. He caught up with the leading pack within 150 metres
Reader's Guide
Lasse Virén's significance lies in his four Olympic gold medals, achieved in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at both the 1972 and 1976 Games. He became the fourth athlete to win both events in the same Olympics, joining Hannes Kolehmainen, Emil Zátopek and Vladimir Kuts. His 1972 10,000 metres victory, where he broke a world record despite falling, is a notable feat of resilience. Virén also revived the 'Flying Finns' tradition from the 1920s. His legacy includes the 'double double'—winning both distance events at consecutive Olympics—a feat later matched by Mo Farah. Outside the Olympics, he set world records for the 2-mile and 5,000 metres in 1972. After his running career, he served as a member of Finland's parliament from 1999–2007 and 2010–2011.
Did You Know?
- Virén broke Ron Clarke's seven-year-old world record in the 10,000 metres at the 1972 Olympics despite falling in the twelfth lap.
- He was a police officer from Myrskylä, Finland.
- Virén was suspended from the 5,000 metres final at the 1976 Olympics after waving his shoes, but was reinstated after an appeal.
- He ran his first marathon at the 1976 Olympics, finishing fifth in 2:13:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lasse Virén?
Lasse Virén is a Finnish long-distance runner born on 22 July 1949, best known for sweeping both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m at two consecutive Olympic Games. He is widely regarded as one of Finland's greatest middle- and long-distance athletes of the modern era.
What are Lasse Virén's major achievements?
Virén captured four Olympic gold medals by winning the 5,000 m and 10,000 m doubles at both the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Games. He was also named Finnish Sportsman of the Year in both 1972 and 1976.
How did Lasse Virén start his running career?
Before becoming a national icon, Virén developed his running in the United States, competing on the cross-country team at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. That early experience in American collegiate running helped shape his endurance and racecraft before he returned to compete at the highest international level.
Why is Lasse Virén important to Finnish athletics?
Virén is credited with reviving the legendary 'Flying Finn' tradition that had been associated with 1920s greats like Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola. His back-to-back Olympic doubles re-established Finland's reputation as a powerhouse nation in distance running.
What did Lasse Virén do after his running career ended?
After hanging up his spikes, Virén entered Finnish politics and served as a member of the national parliament from 1999 to 2007, with a second stint from 2010 to 2011. His post-athletic career kept him in the public eye well beyond his sporting years.
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