Wikipedia

Verner Järvinen

Venne "Verner" Järvinen (3 April 1870 – 31 January 1941) was a Finnish track and field athlete, who competed mostly in throwing events. He won the gold medal in the Greek-style discus in the 1906 Intercalated Games, and the bronze in the 1908 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Finnish Olympic medalist in athletics.[3] He won the Finnish championship in Greek style discus three times in 1909–1911 and held the national record in discus and hammer throw.[4]

Verner Järvinen
Personal information
Full nameVenne Järvinen
Nickname(s)Isä, Verner
National teamFinland
Born(1870-04-03)3 April 1870
Ruovesi, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died31 January 1941(1941-01-31) (aged 70)
Tampere, Finland
Occupationconductor organizer
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw, triple jump
Club
  • Helsingin Reipas
  • Helsingin Unitas
  • Helsingin Atleettiklubi
  • Tampereen Pyrintö
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Shot put: 13.93 (1903)
  • Discus throw: 45.12 m (1909)
  • Javelin throw: 44.25 (1906)[1]
  • Hammer throw: 34.83 m (1909)
  • Triple jump: 11.51 m (1901)[2]
Medal record
Representing Russia Finland
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1908 London Greek discus
Intercalated Games
Gold medal – first place 1906 Athens Greek discus
Bronze medal – third place 1906 Athens Discus
Finnish Championships in Athletics
Gold medal – first place 1909 Greek discus throw
Gold medal – first place 1910 Greek discus throw
Gold medal – first place 1911 Greek discus throw
Silver medal – second place 1911 Hammer throw
Silver medal – second place 1912 Greek discus throw
Bronze medal – third place 1909 Two handed discus throw
Bronze medal – third place 1910 Two handed discus throw
Bronze medal – third place 1910 Hammer throw
Bronze medal – third place 1911 Two handed discus throw

Career edit

Originally one of Finland's leading wrestlers, Järvinen switched to athletics with that sport's rising popularity in early 20th century Finland.[5] Järvinen established national records in both discus throw and hammer throw,[6] yet the latter would be the one throwing event in which he never competed at an Olympics.[1]

Intercalated Games edit

At his first Olympics in Athens 1906 (now no longer officially recognized by the IOC), Järvinen was a solid medal candidate in multiple events. In the shot put he reportedly had the longest efforts (albeit in the absence of defending champion Ralph Rose), but was disqualified for throwing the shot.[5][7] In the javelin he finished fifth behind four Swedes, less than a meter behind silver medalist Knut Lindberg.[8] In the discus he finished third, with defending champion Martin Sheridan taking the top spot. Finally, on 1 May, Järvinen won the gold medal in the Greek-style discus competition.[5][9]

Olympic Games edit

At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain, Järvinen finished third in the Greek-style discus and fourth in the regular discus.[1][10] Both competitions were won by Sheridan.[10] Järvinen also competed in the shot and the javelin, but without any notable success.[1][10]

Järvinen appeared at the Olympics for one more time in 1912, this time competing only in the discus. At age 42, he finished 15th in the regular discus and 12th in the both hands competition.[1]

National edit

He won nine medals at the Finnish Championships in Athletics:

Verner Järvinen at the Finnish Championships in Athletics
Year Event Rank Result References
1909 Two handed shot put 6th 20.77 [11]
Two handed discus throw 3rd 72.60 [12]
Greek discus throw 1st 37.12 [12][13]
1910 Two handed discus throw 3rd 71.17 (31.80 + 39.37) [13]
Greek discus throw 1st 37.43 [12][13]
Hammer throw 3rd 28.48 [14][13]
1911 Two handed discus throw 3rd 68.62 (30.41 + 38.21) [15]
Greek discus throw 1st 38.03 [16][15]
Hammer throw 2nd 30.97 [14][15]
1912 Two handed discus throw 5th 60.36 (27.33 + 33.03) [17]
Greek discus throw 2nd 31.84[16] or 31.57[17]

In discus throw, he is credited with the following Finnish records:[18]

  • 44.00 metres, in 1901
  • 44.30 metres, in Saint Petersburg, on 12 August 1906. Not ratified, because at the time only marks made in Finland counted towards the Finnish record.
  • 39.68 metres, Helsinki, 1 September 1907
  • 44.84 metres, Helsinki, 1 August 1909

In hammer throw, he is credited with the following Finnish record:[19]

  • 34.83 metres, Helsinki, 2 August 1909

Family edit

Three of his four sons – Kalle, Aki and Matti – would become noted Olympians in their own right.[5][1] Kalle Järvinen broke the European record in shot put with a 1927 mark of 15.17 m,[20] and competed in that event at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[21][5] Aki Järvinen was a two-time Olympic silver medalist and a world record holder in the decathlon,[5][22] while Matti was even more successful in the javelin, winning the Olympic gold in 1932 and breaking the world record no less than ten times.[5][22] All of the sons were originally coached by their father.[5]

References edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Verner Järvinen.
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Verner Järvinen Biography and Olympic Results". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  2. ^ Verner Järvinen. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. ^ Siukonen, Markku (2001). Urheilukunniamme puolustajat. Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000. Suuri olympiateos (in Finnish). Vol. 12. Jyväskylä: Graface. p. 103. ISBN 951-98673-1-7.
  4. ^ "Verner Järvinen". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Raevuori, Antero (8 September 2023). Järviset – legendaarinen suomalainen urheilijaperhe (in Finnish). Revontuli. ISBN 978-952-5767-18-6.
  6. ^ Incorporated from Finnish Wikipedia: discus, hammer
  7. ^ "Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Shot Put". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Javelin Throw, Freestyle". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Discus Throw, Greek Style". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  10. ^ a b c Cook, Theodore Andrea (1909). The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report (PDF). British Olympic Association/LA84 Foundation. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  11. ^ Hannus, Matti; Laitinen, Esa; Martiskainen, Seppo (2002). Kalevan kisat, Kalevan malja — vuosisata yleisurheilun Suomen mestaruuksia (in Finnish). Lahti: Suomen urheiluliiton julkaisut. p. 231. ISBN 951-96491-5-8.
  12. ^ a b c Hannus, Matti; Laitinen, Esa; Martiskainen, Seppo (2002). Kalevan kisat, Kalevan malja — vuosisata yleisurheilun Suomen mestaruuksia (in Finnish). Lahti: Suomen urheiluliiton julkaisut. p. 235. ISBN 951-96491-5-8.
  13. ^ a b c d Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 331.
  14. ^ a b Hannus, Matti; Laitinen, Esa; Martiskainen, Seppo (2002). Kalevan kisat, Kalevan malja — vuosisata yleisurheilun Suomen mestaruuksia (in Finnish). Lahti: Suomen urheiluliiton julkaisut. p. 240. ISBN 951-96491-5-8.
  15. ^ a b c Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 333.
  16. ^ a b Hannus, Matti; Laitinen, Esa; Martiskainen, Seppo (2002). Kalevan kisat, Kalevan malja — vuosisata yleisurheilun Suomen mestaruuksia (in Finnish). Lahti: Suomen urheiluliiton julkaisut. p. 236. ISBN 951-96491-5-8.
  17. ^ a b Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki: Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. p. 334.
  18. ^ Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki. p. 584.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. ^ Laitinen, Esa (1987). Suomen yleisurheilun tilasto-osa (in Finnish). Helsinki. p. 585.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  20. ^ Sparks, Bob. "European Records Progression (Men)". Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  21. ^ "Kalle Järvinen". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  22. ^ a b Mark Butler/IAAF Media&PR Department (2009). "IAAF Statistics Handbook 2009" (PDF). IAAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2011.
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