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Pekka Vasala

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Pekka Vasala
Pekka Vasala in 1972
Personal information
Born17 April 1948 (1948-04-17) (age 76)
Riihimäki, Finland
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight63–65 kg (139–143 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)1500 m, 800 m
University teamBYU Cougars[1]
ClubRiihimäen Kisko
Mäntsälän Urheilijat
Achievements and titles
Personal best1500 – 3:36.33 (1972) 800 – 1:44,5 (1972)
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 1500 m

Pekka Antero Vasala (born 17 April 1948) is a retired Finnish middle-distance athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.[2]

At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City he failed to advance from the first round of heats in the 1500 m.[2]

In Munich he won the 1500 m race in a time of 3 minutes 36.3 seconds, ahead of Kip Keino and Rod Dixon. His countryman Lasse Virén had won the 5,000 m earlier in the day, in addition to winning the 10,000 m in world record time earlier in the games. With a medal in every track event from 1500 to 10,000 meters, three gold and one bronze (Tapio Kantanen in the 3000 meter steeplechase) Finnish athletes achieved a level of success not seen since the era of the "Flying Finns" (1912–1936).

His nephew, Samuli Vasala, also an athlete, won the 2003 Nordic Cross Country Championships. Vasala is the son-in-law of Martti Matilainen.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Desert Sun, 12 September 1972
  2. ^ a b Pekka Vasala. sports-reference.com
[edit]
Records
Preceded by European Record Holder Men's 800m
20 August 1972 – 26 June 1973
Succeeded by