Ville Ritola

Ville Ritola (1924 )

Vilho Eino "Ville " Ritola ( born January 18, 1896 in Peräseinäjoki in Seinäjoki, Southern Ostrobothnia landscape, † April 24, 1982 in Helsinki) was a Finnish athlete. Internationally, he was known as one of the " Flying Finns ".

Career

Ritola, whose nickname was Peräseinäjoen Susi (the wolf of Peräseinäjoki ), emigrated to the U.S. in 1913, following in his seven sisters who had gone before him there.

Ritola joined the Finnish -American Athletics Club and coached together with Hannes Kolehmainen, who had also emigrated to the Olympic Games in 1912. Kolehmainen wanted Ritola persuaded to participate in the 1920 Summer Olympics, but Ritola said he sure was not yet ready.

Four years later Ritola took part in Paris at the Olympic Games in 1924. He won four gold and two silver medals. In his first race, the 10,000 - meter race, he improved his own world record by not less than twelve seconds. Three days later he won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a lead of 75 meters. The day after he finished second over 5000 meters. In cross country running, he won the silver medal behind Paavo Nurmi and the Finnish cross country team the gold medal. Together with Nurmi he finally won in the 3000 meter team race.

At the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928 Ritola placed second in the 10,000 meters and won the 5000 - meter race. His record thus amounted to five gold and three silver medals.

Ritola never took part in the Finnish Championships, but won numerous medals at the U.S. Championships. He was American champion over 6 miles (1927 ), 10 miles (1922, 1923, 1925, 1926 and 1927 ), in 2000 yards steeplechase (1923, 1926 and 1927 ) and in cross-country running (1922, 1923, 1925, 1926 and 1927 ).

After the Olympic Games from 1928 Ritola retired from professional racing. In 1971 he returned to his native Finnish.