Hannes Kolehmainen

Hannes Kolehmainen (born the December 9th 1889 in Kuopio - died the January 11th 1966 with Helsinki) was a long-distance runner Finnish. He is regarded as the first of a generation of large Finnish long-distance runners, the “Finnish wheels” and inaugurates the tradition of the Finnish bottom.

Junior by an family of five children, it was initiated very early with the basic races by his/her brothers (Wiljami who was professional runner in the United States, Kalle and Tatu, marathonian). His/her brothers inculcated rigorous and severe methods of drive to him which enabled him to gain many races of which a championship of England of the 4 miles in 1911 with London.

to prepare the Olympic Games of summer of 1912 with Stockholm, Hannes offers a true preparation of professional thanks to financial aid of Wiljami and under the direction of his/her Tatu older brother. It will go even until renting the services of a psychologist. The authorized efforts enabled him to be, with Jim Thorpe, the hero of this Olympiad, and, for Finnish, the symbol of pride natinonale :

the July 8th 1912, under an overpowering heat, it gains the gold medal of the 10.000 m in 31 ' 20" 8/10. It is the first gold medal with the Olympic Games of the Finland, which depended then on the Russia tsarist.
the July 10th 1912, at the end of a heroic duel with French Jean Bouin, it gains the gold medal of the 5.000 m of 14 ' 36" 6/10 and becomes, at 23 years, the youngest recordman of the world of the history of the 5.000 Mr.
the July 12th, at the time of the series of the 3.000 per team it beats world records again (the Finland declares fixed price for the final for reasons of calendar).
the July 15th, it gains the Olympic title of Cross-country and the money medal of the classification by teams.

After the Plays, it decides, in 1914, to try the American adventure as mason. But Wiljami convinces it to continue its drive, and the registered voter with the Marathon of Boston in 1917. It finishes 4th. With the end of the hostilities, the independence of the Finland justifies it to actively prepare the Olympic Games of Antwerp of 1920. It obtains its selection by gaining under the rain the Marathon of New York in June 1920.

the August 22nd 1920, with Antwerp, the Olympic Games of summer of 1920, it gains without history and under the rain the Olympic marathon in 2:32 ' 35" and 8/10 becoming the first large pistard to be taken part and to impose themselves in this test. His/her Tatu brother finishes in the tenth place.

After the Plays, it makes profitable its experiment as regards physical preparation to make assemble the pistard Finnish Albin Stenroos, 3rd of the 10.000 m Olympic Games of summer of 1924 of Stockholm, on the marathon. The methods of drive of Kohelmainen made it possible its compatriot to succeed to him the Olympic prize list in 1924 the Plays of Paris.

At the time of the Olympic Games of summer of 1952 of Helsinki it had the honor to light the basin after a last relay of Paavo Nurmi.

It dies in Helsinki, where it held a store of articles of sport, the January 11th 1966 of a Stroke at the 76 years age.

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