July 28, 1928 - "Flying Finn" Paavo Nurmi begins third and final Olympics

Today is Monday, July 28, 2025 and on this day in 1928, the Olympic Games in Amsterdam began. These were the third and final for Finnish legend Paavo Nurmi.

In this episode, we will discuss Nurmi's first two Olympic appearances and the 9 medals he won between them; learn about his fellow Finn, sometimes teammate, and frequent rival, Ville Ritola; and hear how Nurmi's final Olympic races played out.

This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the Run on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or on Instagram as @robontherunpod.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.

Bibliography:

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20161020185226/http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/paavonurmi2010/olympics.htm⁠

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031200/https://www.urheilumuseo.fi/Kieliversiot/The-Sports-Museum-of-Finland/Information/Exhibitions/Paavo-Nurmis-home⁠

• ⁠https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/paavo-nurmi⁠

• ⁠https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/1786⁠

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033437/https://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/PaavoNurmi2010/olympics2.htm⁠

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20161020185514/http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/paavonurmi2010/life.htm⁠

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040924/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/nu/paavo-nurmi-1.html⁠

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paavo-Nurmi