Lauri Aleksanteri Lehtinen (10 August 1908 – 4 December 1973) was a

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

long-distance runner, winner of a controversial 5000 m race at the 1932 Summer Olympics in

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. Lehtinen ran a new

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...

in 5000 m (14:17.0) just a month prior to the Olympics, thus becoming a main favourite to the Olympic 5000 m title. In the final, the Finns Lehtinen and Lauri Virtanen led early. They managed to shake off all other competitors except Ralph Hill from the

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. Soon the race turned into a battle between Lehtinen and Hill. On the last lap, Hill tried to overtake Lehtinen. Seeing this, Lehtinen blocked his way, zig-zagging from one lane to the other to the great exasperation of the crowd. At the finish, Lehtinen crossed first a mere 50 centimetres ahead. Although this was a common tactic in

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, the American audience was unaccustomed to it, so they booed. Hill declined to file a protest. They both recorded an identical time of 14:30.0. This was the only

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

race longer than 200 metres in which the top two finishers recorded identical times. At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Lehtinen defended his title, but finished second, after his fellow countryman

Gunnar Höckert Gunnar Mikael Höckert (12 February 1910 – 11 February 1940) was a Finnish runner, winner of the 5000 m race at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Biography Born in Helsinki to a wealthy family, Gunnar Höckert had only one great season, in 1936. ...

. In 1940, Lehtinen donated his Los Angeles gold medal to a soldier who had served with distinction on the

Karelian Isthmus The Karelian Isthmus (russian: Карельский перешеек, Karelsky peresheyek; fi, Karjalankannas; sv, Karelska näset) is the approximately stretch of land, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern ...

. Lehtinen's gesture was a mark of respect for Höckert, who was killed in action on the Isthmus. In Kerkkoo village in Porvoo, there is a road named after him, "Lauri Lehtisen Tie."

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lehtinen, Lauri 1908 births 1973 deaths People from Porvoo People from Uusimaa Province (Grand Duchy of Finland) Finnish male long-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1932 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1932 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for Finland Olympic silver medalists for Finland Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field) Sportspeople from Uusimaa