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{{Short description|Finnish long-distance runner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
{{Infobox sportsperson
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{{Medal|Gold| [[1938 European Championships in Athletics|1938 Paris]]|[[1938 European Athletics Championships – Men's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1938 European Championships in Athletics|1938 Paris]]|[[1938 European Athletics Championships – Men's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
}}
}}
'''Taisto Armas Mäki''' (2 December 1910 – 1 May 1979) was a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[long-distance runner]] – one of the so-called "[[Flying Finn]]s".<ref name=Time>{{cite news|title=Pony Express| work=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,763816,00.html|accessdate=25 August 2008 | date=8 April 1940}}</ref> Like his coach and close friend, [[Paavo Nurmi]], Mäki broke [[World records in athletics|world records]] over [[two miles]], [[5000 metres]] and [[10,000 metres]] – holding the records simultaneously between 1939 and 1942.<ref name="Time"/> Mäki was the first man to run 10,000 metres in less than 30 minutes, breaking his own world record in a time of 29:52.6 on 17 September 1939.<ref name=Flying>{{cite web|title=FLYING & THROWING|date=1996|author=Turner, Chris |url=http://home.clara.net/nurmi/fin1.txt|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref>
'''Taisto Armas Mäki''' (2 December 1910 – 1 May 1979) was a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[long-distance runner]] – one of the so-called "[[Flying Finn]]s".<ref name=Time>{{cite magazine|title=Pony Express| magazine=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,763816,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013190008/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,763816,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2007|accessdate=25 August 2008 | date=8 April 1940}}</ref> Like his coach and close friend, [[Paavo Nurmi]], Mäki broke [[World records in athletics|world records]] over [[two miles]], [[5000 metres]] and [[10,000 metres]] – holding the records simultaneously between 1939 and 1942.<ref name="Time"/> Mäki was the first man to run 10,000 metres in less than 30 minutes, breaking his own world record in a time of 29:52.6 on 17 September 1939.<ref name=Flying>{{cite web|title=FLYING & THROWING|date=1996|author=Turner, Chris |url=http://home.clara.net/nurmi/fin1.txt|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref>


Mäki was born in [[Rekola (neighborhood)|Rekola]] in the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Vantaa]]. He was a [[shepherd]] by trade, earning him the nickname "Rekolan paimenpoika" (the "Rekola herdboy").<ref name="Flying"/> At a time when Finland dominated men's long-distance running, Mäki did not come to prominence until 1938. In September of that year, in what proved to be his only appearance at a major championships, he won the 5000 metres at the [[1938 European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]] in [[Paris]], beating [[Sweden|Swede]] [[Henry Jonsson]] and fellow Finn [[Kauko Pekuri]] into second and third place with a time of 14:26.8.<ref name=GBRAthletics.com>{{cite web|year=2007|title=European Championships (Men)| work=GBRAthletics.com|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ec.htm|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> On 29 September 1938, less than four weeks after winning in Paris, Mäki broke the [[10,000 metres world record]] for the first time, beating [[Ilmari Salminen]]'s old record by more than three seconds in a time of 30:02.0.<ref name=10000m>{{cite web|year=2007|title=World Record Progression: 10,000 m. men| work=Athletix.org|url=http://athletix.org/?p=604|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> Mäki went on to break five world records during the following summer.<ref name="Time"/> On 7 June he took close to three seconds off [[Miklós Szabó (middle distance runner)|Miklós Szabó]]'s two mile world record, running a time of 8:53.2 in the [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]].<ref name=Athletix>{{cite web|year=1997|title=Men, Two miles| work=saunalahti.fi|url=http://www.saunalahti.fi/~sut/eng/mwrrun.html#2miles|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> Nine days later, in the same stadium, he took over eight seconds off [[Lauri Lehtinen]]'s [[5000 metres world record|world record over 5000 metres]].<ref name=5000m>{{cite web|year=2007|title=World Record Progression: 5000 m. men|work=Athletix.org|url=http://athletix.org/?p=599|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130414072205/http://athletix.org/?p=599|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2013|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> He followed these performances by taking close to ten seconds off his own 10,000 m world record, running 29:52.6 on 17 September.<ref name="10000m"/>
Mäki was born in [[Rekola (neighborhood)|Rekola]] in the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Vantaa]]. He was a [[shepherd]] by trade, earning him the nickname "Rekolan paimenpoika" (the "Rekola herdboy").<ref name="Flying"/> At a time when Finland dominated men's long-distance running, Mäki did not come to prominence until 1938. In September of that year, in what proved to be his only appearance at a major championships, he won the 5000 metres at the [[1938 European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]] in [[Paris]], beating [[Sweden|Swede]] [[Henry Jonsson]] and fellow Finn [[Kauko Pekuri]] into second and third place with a time of 14:26.8.<ref name=GBRAthletics.com>{{cite web|year=2007|title=European Championships (Men)| work=GBRAthletics.com|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ec.htm|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> On 29 September 1938, less than four weeks after winning in Paris, Mäki broke the [[10,000 metres world record]] for the first time, beating [[Ilmari Salminen]]'s old record by more than three seconds in a time of 30:02.0.<ref name=10000m>{{cite web|year=2007|title=World Record Progression: 10,000 m. men| work=Athletix.org|url=http://athletix.org/?p=604|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> Mäki went on to break five world records during the following summer.<ref name="Time"/> On 7 June he took close to three seconds off [[Miklós Szabó (middle distance runner)|Miklós Szabó]]'s two mile world record, running a time of 8:53.2 in the [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]].<ref name=Athletix>{{cite web|year=1997|title=Men, Two miles| work=saunalahti.fi|url=http://www.saunalahti.fi/~sut/eng/mwrrun.html#2miles|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> Nine days later, in the same stadium, he took over eight seconds off [[Lauri Lehtinen]]'s [[5000 metres world record|world record over 5000 metres]].<ref name=5000m>{{cite web|year=2007|title=World Record Progression: 5000 m. men|work=Athletix.org|url=http://athletix.org/?p=599|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414072205/http://athletix.org/?p=599|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2013|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref> He followed these performances by taking close to ten seconds off his own 10,000 m world record, running 29:52.6 on 17 September.<ref name="10000m"/>


The [[Winter War]] between Finland and the [[Soviet Union]] broke out on 30 November 1939. Like many of his fellow Flying Finns, including [[Gunnar Höckert]] and Lauri Lehtinen, Mäki was initially deployed on the [[Karelian Isthmus]].<ref name="Time"/> However, along with Paavo Nurmi, he was sent on a tour of the [[United States]] in February 1940 in order to raise money for the Finnish Relief Fund. During the tour, which lasted for two months and culminated in an appearance in front of 14,000 people at [[Madison Square Garden]], the two men raced against hand-picked American athletes. Mäki's times during the tour were well below those he had set the previous summer, the cause of which was a matter of much debate at the time.<ref name="Time"/> Mäki's career was cut short by service in [[World War II]]. The conflict had also caused the cancellation of the [[1940 Summer Olympics]] in [[Helsinki]], and with it ending Mäki's hopes of representing his country at the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|year=2002|title=Deconstructing Janne: too independent for a national sporting hero?| work=Helsingin Sanomat|url=http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20020820IE3|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref>
The [[Winter War]] between Finland and the [[Soviet Union]] broke out on 30 November 1939. Like many of his fellow Flying Finns, including [[Gunnar Höckert]] and Lauri Lehtinen, Mäki was initially deployed on the [[Karelian Isthmus]].<ref name="Time"/> However, along with Paavo Nurmi, he was sent on a tour of the [[United States]] in February 1940 in order to raise money for the Finnish Relief Fund. During the tour, which lasted for two months and culminated in an appearance in front of 14,000 people at [[Madison Square Garden]], the two men raced against hand-picked American athletes. Mäki's times during the tour were well below those he had set the previous summer, the cause of which was a matter of much debate at the time.<ref name="Time"/> Mäki's career was cut short by service in [[World War II]]. The conflict had also caused the cancellation of the [[1940 Summer Olympics]] in [[Helsinki]], and with it ending Mäki's hopes of representing his country at the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|year=2002|title=Deconstructing Janne: too independent for a national sporting hero?| work=Helsingin Sanomat|url=http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20020820IE3|accessdate=25 August 2008}}</ref>
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[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Vantaa]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Vantaa]]
[[Category:People from Uusimaa Province (Grand Duchy of Finland)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Uusimaa Province (Grand Duchy of Finland)]]
[[Category:Finnish male long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Finnish male long-distance runners]]
[[Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Finnish sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 05:26, 3 December 2024

Taisto Mäki
Mäki breaks the 30-minute barrier over 10000 m in 1939
Personal information
Born2 December 1910
Rekola, Finland
Died1 May 1979 (aged 68)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event1500-10000 m
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m – 3:53.5 (1939)
5000 m – 14:08.8 (1939)
10000 m – 29:52.6 (1939)[1]
Medal record
Representing  Finland
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1938 Paris 5000 m

Taisto Armas Mäki (2 December 1910 – 1 May 1979) was a Finnish long-distance runner – one of the so-called "Flying Finns".[2] Like his coach and close friend, Paavo Nurmi, Mäki broke world records over two miles, 5000 metres and 10,000 metres – holding the records simultaneously between 1939 and 1942.[2] Mäki was the first man to run 10,000 metres in less than 30 minutes, breaking his own world record in a time of 29:52.6 on 17 September 1939.[3]

Mäki was born in Rekola in the municipality of Vantaa. He was a shepherd by trade, earning him the nickname "Rekolan paimenpoika" (the "Rekola herdboy").[3] At a time when Finland dominated men's long-distance running, Mäki did not come to prominence until 1938. In September of that year, in what proved to be his only appearance at a major championships, he won the 5000 metres at the European Championships in Paris, beating Swede Henry Jonsson and fellow Finn Kauko Pekuri into second and third place with a time of 14:26.8.[4] On 29 September 1938, less than four weeks after winning in Paris, Mäki broke the 10,000 metres world record for the first time, beating Ilmari Salminen's old record by more than three seconds in a time of 30:02.0.[5] Mäki went on to break five world records during the following summer.[2] On 7 June he took close to three seconds off Miklós Szabó's two mile world record, running a time of 8:53.2 in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.[6] Nine days later, in the same stadium, he took over eight seconds off Lauri Lehtinen's world record over 5000 metres.[7] He followed these performances by taking close to ten seconds off his own 10,000 m world record, running 29:52.6 on 17 September.[5]

The Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union broke out on 30 November 1939. Like many of his fellow Flying Finns, including Gunnar Höckert and Lauri Lehtinen, Mäki was initially deployed on the Karelian Isthmus.[2] However, along with Paavo Nurmi, he was sent on a tour of the United States in February 1940 in order to raise money for the Finnish Relief Fund. During the tour, which lasted for two months and culminated in an appearance in front of 14,000 people at Madison Square Garden, the two men raced against hand-picked American athletes. Mäki's times during the tour were well below those he had set the previous summer, the cause of which was a matter of much debate at the time.[2] Mäki's career was cut short by service in World War II. The conflict had also caused the cancellation of the 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, and with it ending Mäki's hopes of representing his country at the Olympic Games.[8]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taisto Mäki.
  1. ^ Taisto Mäki. trackfield.brinkster.net
  2. ^ a b c d e "Pony Express". Time. 8 April 1940. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  3. ^ a b Turner, Chris (1996). "FLYING & THROWING". Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  4. ^ "European Championships (Men)". GBRAthletics.com. 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  5. ^ a b "World Record Progression: 10,000 m. men". Athletix.org. 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Men, Two miles". saunalahti.fi. 1997. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  7. ^ "World Record Progression: 5000 m. men". Athletix.org. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  8. ^ "Deconstructing Janne: too independent for a national sporting hero?". Helsingin Sanomat. 2002. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
Records
Preceded by Men's Two Miles World Record Holder
7 June 1939 – 3 June 1942 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 5000 m World Record Holder
16 June 1939 – 20 September 1942 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 10,000 m World Record Holder
29 September 1938 – 25 August 1944 		Succeeded by
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