Ilmari Salminen

Champion long distance runner Ilmari Salminen was born on September 21, 1902 in Elimaki, Finland. Salminen initially took up running at age twenty-seven and began his international athletics career in 1934 by winning the men's 10,000 meters and taking the bronze medal in the men's 5,000 meters at the first European Championships in Turin, Italy. Ilmari went on to place sixth in the men's 5,000 meters and won the gold medal in the men's 10,000 meters at the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. Salminen subsequently won a second gold medal in the men's 10,000 meters at the 1938 European Championships. Moreover, Ilmari won six Finnish titles through his impressive athletic career: He not only won the men's 5,000 meters in 1932 and 1942, but also won the men's 10,000 meters in the years 1934, 1935, 1937, and 1942. In addition, Salminen was the president of the Organizing Committee for the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland. Ilmari died at age 83 on January 5, 1986 in Kouvola, Finland.