Jussi Kanervo

Jussi Aleksi Samuli Kanervo (born 1 February 1993) is a Finnish hurdler. He won silver in the 400 m hurdles at the 2015 European U23 Championships and bronze in the 110 m hurdles at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Biography Kanervo was born in Tornio in northern Finland and set national age group records from an early age, breaking the national under-11 record for boys' 150 metres in 2003 and the national indoor under-12 record for 60 metres the following year. He competed in both the 110 m hurdles and the 400 m hurdles at the 2009 World Youth Championships in Brixen, Italy, but was eliminated in the early rounds in both events.

Kanervo repeated as Finnish champion in the 110 m hurdles in 2013; he represented Finland in that event at the European U23 Championships in Tampere, but was eliminated in the heats. He took up the 400 m hurdles again in 2014, running 51.52 in his first race over the senior (91.4 cm) hurdles; the time broke Ossi Mildh's HIFK club record from 1954 and was the fastest ever debut by a Finn. He won his third consecutive Finnish championship title in the 110 m hurdles that year, but his times in that event had stagnated and the 400 m hurdles became his main event;

Kanervo broke 50 seconds in the 400 m hurdles for the first time on 11 April 2015 in Greenville, North Carolina, running 49.78. He suffered from a persistent groin injury through the 2015 collegiate season, but stayed in good form; he qualified for his first NCAA championship final, placing sixth in 50.20. At the 2015 European U23 Championships in Tallinn Kanervo improved his personal best to 49.66, winning silver behind Patryk Dobek of Poland; he was Finland's only medalist.