Ilmari Salminen

Who was Ilmari Salminen?

Ilmari R. Salminen was a Finnish track and field athlete, winner of the 10,000 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

He was born in Elimäki and died in Kouvola.

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.

At the Berlin Olympics, Salminen, at first took the sixth place at the 5000 m final. On the next day, Salminen won against Arvo Askola and Volmari Iso-Hollo, two other Finns, in the 10,000 m final, winning only by 0.2 seconds.

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 6 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.