A FINNISH IDOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10920, 11 June 1929, Page 7

A FINNISH IDOL.

NUR Ml THE RUNNER

A FINE .RECORD. Several, reports have.come through 1 nan various sources staling that Nurmi, the great- i.jums'n iniimr, inn! signed a contract will; the late George L. (I—x) Rickard to appear iu professional races , in America. However, he recently arrived m New Vork, and emphatically denied that he had turned.

Nearly 33 years ago, in the town of Abo. Finland. Paavo Nurmi, who was destined to become the most marvellous runner that ever stepped ink) a shoe, was horn. At the Olympic Games in Paris in 1.921 he made the critics and athletes from all over the world gasp in wonderment and grope in vain for words to express their amazement that this small, pale-faced, punylooking fellow could go on the track and reel off lap after lap. and smash record after record, with as much unconcern as an ordinary man shells peas.

Practically nothing is known about Nurmi’s early life beyond the fact that, lie was used to running six miles to and from school, and always had an am hit ion to become a great runner. When in the Finnish Army he won several championships, but A was at the Olympic Games at Antwerp that the world first heard oi him. J.n the years 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926, -Nurmi reached the pinnacle of his fame. During those lour years Nurmi broke world’s records for distances from one mile up to U» miles.more records than mo British Empire has ever held m athletics, and at t.he present time the great Finn holds -more worm, marks than- the rest of the world coin hin'ed, except America. When one looks at that fact, and considers the athletic talent' of France, Germany, Italy, and Great Britain, he is amazed, and could not' be banned for looking upon Nurmi as a. human freak. If he were a freak, it would be an idle hit of labor to attempt even the shortest' discourse on his career. However, when' one considers that at the Olympic Games of 1920 at Antwerp, in 1925 at Paris, m 1926 at Amsterdam, Finland, with a population of only 3,000.000, came second only to America with her 120,000,000, and heat such huge countries as Germany, Franco, Italy, and Britain, and when one considers that this achievement was reached not by the prowess of Nurmi alone, hut by that of a goodly number of others also, some of them nearly his equals, lie will no doubt see the error of branding Nurmi as a freak. Finland is. undeniably, the greatest. athletic country in the universe. It is in the distance runs, perhaps, more than in any other form of athletics that Finland excels every other country, and it is argued that not even Greece in the golden days of her athletic eminence could possibly have rivalled the modern Finns. There are four men living to-day who, more than any others, have attained this distinction lor Finland. They are Ha lines' Kolehmalnen, Albin Stenroos, Willie Rilola. and Paavo Nurmi. When Nurmi first hurst into the glare of publicity after his wins at Paris, everyone was asking: “What special stylo does lie adopt?” and “What special diet does he believe in?” Here, thought the critics, must be the secret of his marvellous spew! and endurance. But, strange to relate, fcliev were disappointed to find that he broke every preconceived idea of the correct method of running. lie ian in an upright position. swung his shoulders, failed to use In's arms, and. worse of all. ran on the flat of his foot, Even now it. is considered had style to run flat-footed, and yet if the aim of running is to go the furthest distance in the least possible time, then Nurmi is right and the other is wrong. Then, the wise men s:iicl it must he his diet. He must have some secret food or preparation to build- up endurance. But, here again, they wore disappointed, as Nurmi told, them lie ate and drank according to his taste. Whe.u a reoorter asked Nurmi why little muscular development, could defeat men of good physique and muscular- development. Nurmi gave the following rcplv. which is probable unique in athletic annals.; “.Ml that. I am, T am because of my mind. Mind is everything; muscles —a piece of rubber. Alv advice to inv, American friends is that they practice athletics on principle, without expect ng immediate rewards. One must learn to win modestly, and lose with good spirit. .MThis. indeed, is the mark of .a true athlete. In a race, always follow your own plan, and be not concerned about your rivals, whether they are ahead of you or behind you. This is .my advice to my young American friends.”

The following is a b'-si of Nurmi’s greatest records. He has numerous others ton lengthy to enumerate :

1500 metres. 3min 52 3-ssec. 1924 2000 metres, Sniin 26 3-lOsec. 1922, 3000 metres, Smin 20 2-ssec, 1926. 5000 metres, 14min'28 l-sseq„ 1924, 7.5.00 metres, 22min 22sec, 1924. 10,000 metres. 30min 6 l-10sec, ’24. 9957 metres, 30min, 1924. One milo, 4imn 10 2-ssec, 1923. Two miles, 9min ssee. 1926. Three miles, 14min 8 2-ssec, 1922. Four miles, .'l9min 15 2-ssec, 1924. Five miles, 24min 6 l-10sec, 1924. Six miles, 29min 71-10 sec, 1924.