Photo: Unknown (Fratelli Alinari Museum of the History of Photography, Florence) — Public domainSource
Ilmari Salminen
long-distance runner · athletics competitor · athlete
- September 21, 1902 · Elimäki
- January 5, 1986 · Kouvola
- 83 years
About Ilmari Salminen
Ilmari Salminen, 83, Finnish Olympic long-distance runner (1936).
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Full Biography
|Ilmari R. Salminen (21 September 1902 – 5 January 1986) was a Finnish long-distance runner, winner of the 10,000 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Salminen became one of the best long-distance runners in the 1930s when he began his international athletics career in 1934 by winning the 10,000 m and taking bronze in 5000 m at the first European Championships in Turin, thus becoming a main favorite at the Olympic 10,000 m run.
On the first day of competitions in the Berlin Olympics, Salminen won the 10,000 m final before compatriots Arvo Askola and Volmari Iso-Hollo. Salminen managed to hold off Askola by a margin of 0.2 seconds. In the 5000 m final a few days later, Salminen finished in sixth place.
In the next season, Salminen ran a new 10,000 m world record of 30:05.6. He also ran a new world record in six miles. Salminen finished his international career by winning the gold medal in 10,000 m at the 1938 European Championships and retired from athletics after the next season. He later became a sports official and headed the organizing committee of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilmari_Salminen
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Ilmari Salminen's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Ilmari Salminen born?
- A.21 September 1902correct
- B.21 September 1936
- C.10 October 1902
- D.5 January 1986
Ilmari Salminen was born on 21 September 1902.
Source: biography introduction
2.What sport was Ilmari Salminen known for?
- A.Long-distance runningcorrect
- B.Ice hockey
- C.Javelin throw
- D.Cross-country skiing
Ilmari Salminen was a Finnish long-distance runner.
Source: biography introduction
3.In what year did Ilmari Salminen start his international athletics career?
- A.1930
- B.1934correct
- C.1936
- D.1932
Ilmari Salminen began his international athletics career in 1934 at the first European Championships.
Source: international career section
4.Which city hosted the first European Championships where Ilmari Salminen won a gold medal?
- A.Paris
- B.Helsinki
- C.Turincorrect
- D.Berlin
Ilmari Salminen won the 10,000 m at the first European Championships held in Turin.
Source: international career section
5.How many seconds separated Ilmari Salminen and Arvo Askola in the 1936 Olympic 10,000 m final?
- A.1.2 seconds
- B.2.0 seconds
- C.0.5 seconds
- D.0.2 secondscorrect
Ilmari Salminen managed to hold off Arvo Askola by a margin of 0.2 seconds in the 10,000 m final.
Source: Berlin Olympics section
6.What position did Ilmari Salminen finish in the 5000 m final at the Berlin Olympics?
- A.Tenth
- B.Third
- C.First
- D.Sixthcorrect
Ilmari Salminen finished in sixth place in the 5000 m final at the Berlin Olympics.
Source: Berlin Olympics section
7.What was the world record time set by Ilmari Salminen in the 10,000 m?
- A.31:05.6
- B.30:05.6correct
- C.29:55.6
- D.30:15.6
Ilmari Salminen ran a new 10,000 m world record of 30:05.6.
Source: record section
8.Besides the 10,000 m, in which other distance did Ilmari Salminen set a world record?
- A.5000 metres
- B.Ten miles
- C.Six milescorrect
- D.Three miles
Ilmari Salminen set a world record in the six miles event.
Source: record section
9.At which event did Ilmari Salminen finish his international athletics career?
- A.1940 Olympics
- B.1952 Helsinki Olympics
- C.1936 Berlin Olympics
- D.1938 European Championshipscorrect
Ilmari Salminen finished his international career by winning the gold medal in 10,000 m at the 1938 European Championships.
Source: international career section
10.When did Ilmari Salminen retire from athletics?
- A.After the 1936 Berlin Olympics
- B.Immediately after the 1938 European Championships
- C.After the 1939 seasoncorrect
- D.After the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
Ilmari Salminen retired from athletics after the season following his 1938 gold medal win.
Source: international career section
11.What role did Ilmari Salminen hold for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki?
- A.Finnish team captain
- B.Head of the organizing committeecorrect
- C.Gold medal winner
- D.Chief track official
Ilmari Salminen became a sports official and headed the organizing committee of the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Source: post-athletics career section
12.Which runners did Ilmari Salminen beat in the 1936 Olympic 10,000 m final?
- A.Arvo Askola and Volmari Iso-Hollocorrect
- B.Two British athletes
- C.No one, he lost that race
- D.Two American athletes
Ilmari Salminen won the 10,000 m final before compatriots Arvo Askola and Volmari Iso-Hollo.
Source: Berlin Olympics section
13.On what date did Ilmari Salminen die?
- A.21 September 1986
- B.5 January 1952
- C.5 January 1986correct
- D.21 September 1936
Ilmari Salminen died on 5 January 1986.
Source: biography introduction
14.How did Ilmari Salminen perform at the first European Championships in 1934 regarding the 5000 m?
- A.He did not participate
- B.He finished in sixth place
- C.He won the gold medal
- D.He took the bronze medalcorrect
Ilmari Salminen took the bronze medal in the 5000 m at the first European Championships.
Source: international career section
15.In what decade did Ilmari Salminen establish himself as one of the best long-distance runners?
- A.1940s
- B.1930scorrect
- C.1920s
- D.1950s
Ilmari Salminen became one of the best long-distance runners in the 1930s.
Source: international career section
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