Lasse Virén

Lasse Virén is a Finnish former long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. He was elected Finnish Sportsman of the Year in 1972 and 1976 and later became a politician and a member of Finland's parliament in 1999-2007 and 2010-2011. At the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, Virén won both the 5,000 and the 10,000 meters events. At the 10,000 meters final held on 3 September, Virén broke Ron Clarke's 7-year-old world record despite falling in the twelfth lap after getting tangled with Emiel Puttemans. The Finn won the race in 27:38:40 (which is still the record for the Olympiastadion). At the 1976 Summer Olympics, Virén again won both events, coined later as the "double double", and became the first repeat winner of the 5,000 meters race in Olympic history (since joined by Mo Farah). He won the 10,000-metre final comparatively easily. Lasse Virén ended his career after the 1980 Summer Olympics, where he placed fifth in the 10,000 meters. Viren skipped the 5,000-meters race and chose to compete in the Olympic marathon, where he started quite well, running over 20 kilometers in the lead group. Stomach problems, however, caused him to drop out before 30 kilometers. In the autumn of 1980, he announced his retirement from active competitive running. In 2014 Virén was inducted into the International Association of Athletics Federations' Hall of Fame.