Asteroid 1740 Paavo Nurmi and Finnish Runner Paavo Nurmi - Helsinki, Finland
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neoc1
N 60° 11.060 E 024° 55.615
35V E 385024 N 6673744
The main belt asteroid 1740 Paavo Nurmi was named after the Finnish middle and long distance runner Paavo Nurmi. A monument honoring Paavo Nurmi is located at the entrance to the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.
Waymark Code: WMJ6ZF
Location: Finland
Date Posted: 10/04/2013
Views: 41
The Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä discovered 128 asteroids. In 1939 he discovered and named a main belt asteroid after Finland's greatest Olympic athlete, Paavo Nurmi.
A larger-than-life-size bronze statue of a nude Paavo Nurmi is depicted in mid-stride on top of a granite base. His right foot is on the plinth while his left foot is behind and in the air. Paavo Nurmi, nicknamed the Flying Finn, was middle and long distance runner competing is distances between 1500 meters and 20 kilometers.
During the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium he won a silver medal in the 5,000 meter race and gold medals in the 10,000 meter, individual men's cross-country, and team cross-country events. During the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris he won five gold medals in the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 3,000 meters team, individual men's cross-country, and team men's cross-country. In the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam he won silver in the 5,000 meters and men's 3,000 meters steeplechase and gold in the men's 10,000 meters. Overall he won 3 silver and 9 gold medals in three Olympic Games. During his 14 year career he set 22 world records and was unbeaten in both the men's cross-country events and at 10,000 meters.
The side of the base is inscribed PAAVO NURMI and a plaque on the front of the base is inscribed:
PAAVO NURMI
1987-1972
{Olympic Rings}
ANTWERPEN 1920
PARIS 1924
AMSTERDAM 1928
9 KULTAMITALIA - GUILMEDALJER - GOLD MEDALS
3 HOPEAMITELIA - SILVERMEDALJER - SILVER MEDALS
22 MAAILMANENÄTYSTÄ - VÄRLDSREKORD - WORLD RECORDS
KUVANVEISTÄI - SKULPTÖR - SCULPTURER - WÄINÖ AALTONEN