Paavo Nurmi was a Helsinki-based middle-distance and long-distance runner. Paavo Nurmi is also known as the “Flying Finn” and the “Phantom Finn.” Paavo has also set 22 world records over distances ranging from 1500 meters to 20 kilometers.

How much is the net worth of Paavo Nurmi?

Paavo Nurmi made a lot of money as a professional runner and through his other business ventures. Paavo’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million US dollars.

Childhood of Paavo Nurmi

On June 13, 1897, Paavo Nurmi was born in Turku, Grand Duchy of Finland. Paavo was born under the sign of Gemini and died at the age of 76. Furthermore, Paavo’s given name is Paavo Johannes Nurmi. His father, Johan Fredrik Nurmi, was a carpenter, and his mother, Matilda Wilhelmiina Laine, was a teacher.

Paavo has four siblings: Siiri, Saara, Martti, and Lahja. Paavo and his family moved from Raunistula to a 40-square-meter flat in Turku’s city center in 1903. Paavo and his family lived in a 40-square-meter apartment in central Turku until 1932. Furthermore, Paavo’s father died in 1910, and his sister Lahja died the following year.

Due to his family’s financial situation, Paavo dropped out of school to work as an errand boy for a bakery. Paavo was later awarded a scholarship to attend Helsinki’s Teollisuuskoulu industrial school. Paavo graduated from the Teollisuuskoulu industrial school as an engineer in 1923.

Body Measurement, Height, and Weight of Paavo Nurmi

Paavo Nurmi stood 5’9″ tall and weighed 65 kg. Paavo had dark hair and eyes. Aside from that, there is no information available about Paavo’s other body measurements.

Paavo Nurmi’s Professional career

The young Paavo and his friends were inspired by the English long-distance runner Alfred Shrubb. Paavo and his friends ran or walked six kilometers to swim in Ruissalo on a regular basis, and they sometimes ran twice a day. Paavo also ran the 1500 meters in 5:02 when he was eleven years old. Paavo worked as an errand boy for a bakery due to financial difficulties and the deaths of his father and sister Lahja. Paavo also dropped out of school to work at the bakery.

Paavo got plenty of exercise pushing heavy carts up Turku’s steep slopes, even though he stopped actively running. At the age of fifteen, Paavo reconsidered his interest in athletics after being inspired by Hannes Kolehmainen’s performances. Paavo bought his first pair of sneakers and began training a few days later. Paavo also joined the Turun Urheiluliitto sports club in 1914.

Paavo also made his international debut in August 1920, at the Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Paavo finished second to Frenchman Joseph Guillemot in the 5000 meters at the Olympics, earning him his first medal. Furthermore, this is the only time in the Olympics that Paavo has lost to a non-Finnish runner.

Paavo also won three gold medals in three events: the 10,000-meter run, the cross-country race, and the cross-country team event. Paavo’s Olympic success has resulted in electric lighting and running water for his family in Turku. Paavo’s races became a series of experiments that he meticulously analyzed after his defeat to Joseph.

Furthermore, Paavo began to carry a stopwatch and spread his efforts more evenly across the distance.

Setting World Records as well as Retirement

In Stockholm in 1921, Paavo set his first world record in the 10,000 meters. Paavo later set world records in the 2000, 3000, and 5000-meter dashes in 1922. A year later, Paavo set records for the 1500 m and the mile. Paavo also tested his speed in the 800 m, winning the 1923 Finnish Championships with a new national record.

Paavo was jeopardized by a knee injury in the spring of 1924, but he recovered and resumed training twice a day for the 1924 Summer Olympics. Paavo set new world records in the 1500 m and 5000 m at Helsinki’s Eläintarha Stadium during the 1324 Olympics. Furthermore, Paavo ran the first 800 m almost three seconds faster in the 1500 m final at the Paris Olympics.

Paavo also established a 10,000 m world record that would stand for nearly 13 years. Paavo, on the other hand, only won one gold medal in the 10,000 m at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Paavo won two silver medals in the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase at this tournament.

Paavo was suspended and barred from competing in the 10,000 m race in Los Angeles by an IAAF special commission less than three days before the race. Paavo also announced his retirement from running on September 16, 1934, with a 10,000-meter victory in Viipuri.

Life and Death After Retirement

Paavo retired and went on to work as a coach for the Finnish Athletics Federation, where he prepared runners for the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. Paavo and the entire board of directors resigned from the federation after a tense 40–38 vote to reestablish sports ties with Sweden.

After three months, Paavo returned to coaching and helped the team win three gold medals, three silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Games. In addition, in 1936, Paavo opened a men’s clothing store in Helsinki. Paavo died of old age on October 2, 1973. Paavo had previously suffered from health issues, including at least one heart attack, a stroke, and failing eyesight.

Achievements of Paavo Nurmi

At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Paavo won three gold medals and one silver medal. Paavo won five gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Paris in 1924. Paavo went on to win one gold and two silver medals at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Paavo also set twenty-two official world records over distances ranging from 1500 meters to 20 kilometers.

What is the relationship status of Paavo Nurmi?

Paavo Nurmi married socialite Sylvi Laaksonen in 1932, but the couple divorced in 1935. Paavo’s wife Sylvi stated to the Associated Press in 1933 that she was opposed to Paavo raising their newborn son Matti to be a runner. Paavo’s son Matti Nurmi went on to become a middle-distance runner and, later, a “self-made” businessman. Aside from that, there is no more information on Paavo’s other relationship.

When it comes to Paavo’s rumors and controversy, he was not a part of it. Aside from that, Paavo was preoccupied with his personal and professional life. Furthermore, Paavo preferred to stay away from rumors and controversy.

Social Media of Paavo Nurmi

During Paavo’s time, there were no social media platforms, and there was no internet at all. Paavo was a hard worker who put in a lot of effort to achieve his goals.

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