Olavi Salonen

Olavi Salonen was a Finnish athlete who was a world record progression|world record] holder of men's 1500-metre run.

Biography

Salonen participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1500 m in Athletics at the [1960 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1960] and Athletics at the [1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1964]. At the European Athletics Championships he competed twice in 800 metres, in 1958 [European Athletics Championships|1958] and 1962.
On 11 July 1957, Salonen ran a 1500-metre race in Turku. He finished second with the same world record time 3:40.2 as the winner Olavi Salsola. The new world record stood only for one day. Czech runner Stanislav Jungwirth ran 3:38.1 on the next day at Stará Boleslav.
Salonen died on 6 March 2025, at the age of 91.