Pekka Vasala

Pekka Antero Vasala ( born April 17, 1948 in Helsinki, Finland ) is a former Finnish athlete who by winning the Olympic gold medal in 1972 celebrated his biggest success than 1500 m.

He was interested in very quickly for athletics - especially for running, but was experiencing at the time at the beginning of the 1960s, a boom while not necessarily in Finland in the world.

Already at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City Vasala was there, but did not get beyond the flow. At the European Championships in 1969 Vasala occupied as a ninth place, like two years later at the European Championships in 1971 in his hometown.

But His big moment came on September 9, 1972, when he won the 1500 m final of Munich in 3:36,3 min before Kip Keino from Kenya and Rod Dixon of New Zealand. On the same day his compatriot Lasse Virén Gold took over the 10,000 m. Thus the Finns were able to cheer within half an hour over two gold medals.

At the European Championships in 1974 Vasala then reached in 3:41,5 still a sixth place. But on his performance from Munich, he was not able.

His nephew Samuli Vasala is also runners and won in 2003, the Nordic Cross Country Championships.

Athlete (Finland )
Olympian (Finland )
Olympic gold medalist ( Athletics )
Miler
Born in 1948
Man

1969 European Athletics Championships 1971 European Athletics Championships 1974 European Athletics Championships Charles Bennett (athlete) Arnold Jackson (British Army officer) Albert Hill (athlete) John Walker (athlete)

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