Verner Järvinen

Venne "Verner" Järvinen (3 April 1870 – 31 January 1941) was a Finnish track and field athlete, who competed mostly in throwing events. He won the gold medal in the Greek-style discus in the 1906 Intercalated Games, and the bronze in the 1908 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Finnish Olympic medalist in athletics. He won the Finnish championship in Greek style discus three times in 1909–1911 and held the national record in discus and hammer throw.

Career Originally one of Finland's leading wrestlers, Järvinen switched to athletics with that sport's rising popularity in early 20th century Finland. Järvinen established national records in both discus throw and hammer throw, yet the latter would be the one throwing event in which he never competed at an Olympics.

Intercalated Games

At his first Olympics in Athens 1906 (now no longer officially recognized by the IOC), Järvinen was a solid medal candidate in multiple events. In the shot put he reportedly had the longest efforts (albeit in the absence of defending champion Ralph Rose), but was disqualified for throwing the shot. In the javelin he finished fifth behind four Swedes, less than a meter behind silver medalist Knut Lindberg. In the discus he finished third, with defending champion Martin Sheridan taking the top spot. Finally, on 1 May, Järvinen won the gold medal in the Greek-style discus competition.

Olympic Games

At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain, Järvinen finished third in the Greek-style discus and fourth in the regular discus. Järvinen also competed in the shot and the javelin, but without any notable success. Two handed discus throw

72.60 Greek discus throw

37.12

Two handed discus throw

71.17 (31.80 + 39.37) Greek discus throw

38.03 Greek discus throw

44.00 metres, in 1901 44.30 metres, in Saint Petersburg, on 12 August 1906. Not ratified, because at the time only marks made in Finland counted towards the Finnish record. 39.68 metres, Helsinki, 1 September 1907 44.84 metres, Helsinki, 1 August 1909 In hammer throw, he is credited with the following Finnish record: 34.83 metres, Helsinki, 2 August 1909

Family Three of his four sons – Kalle, Aki and Matti – would become noted Olympians in their own right. and competed in that event at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. All of the sons were originally coached by their father.