About Olavi Salonen
Lived 1933 – 2025 (aged 91). Olavi Salonen was a Finnish middle-distance runner.
Olavi Salonen (20 December 1933 – 6 March 2025) was a Finnish athlete who was a world record holder of men's 1500-metre run.
Biography Salonen participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1500 m in 1960 and 1964. At the European Athletics Championships he competed twice in 800 metres, in 1958 and 1962.
On 11 July 1957, Salonen ran a 1500-metre race in Turku. He finished second with the same world record time 3:40.2 as the winner Olavi Salsola. The new world record stood only for one day. Czech runner Stanislav Jungwirth ran 3:38.1 on the next day at Stará Boleslav.
Salonen died on 6 March 2025, at the age of 91.
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Important facts
People in Olavi Salonen's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Olavi Salonen?
Finnish middle distance runner
When was Olavi Salonen born?
Olavi Salonen was born on 20 December 1933 in Noormarkku.
When did Olavi Salonen die?
Olavi Salonen died on 6 March 2025.
What was Olavi Salonen's occupation?
Olavi Salonen was a middle-distance runner.
What nationality was Olavi Salonen?
Olavi Salonen was Finnish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Olavi Salonen. https://biography.guide/olavi-salonen/
MLA: "Olavi Salonen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/olavi-salonen/.
Chicago: "Olavi Salonen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/olavi-salonen/.
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