Matti Järvinen

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Olympic medalist
Center
Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Gold Los Angeles 1932 Javelin throw
EAA European Championships
Gold 1934 Turin Javelin throw
Gold 1938 Paris Javelin throw

Matti Henrikki Järvinen (February 18, 1909July 22, 1985) was a Finnish javelin thrower. He won the Olympic gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics ahead of two other Finns, Matti Sippala and Eino Penttilä. The Finns considered other competitors' throwing styles naive, and didn't bother to take off their tracksuits during the event.

Besides his Olympic gold, Järvinen is remembered for his numerous world records. During the years from 1930 to 1934, he broke the javelin throw world record 10 times in a row, more than the second place holders Jonni Myyrä (4) and Jan Železný (4) have managed together. He also became the European champion in 1934 and defended his title successfully in 1938. In the 1936 Summer Olympics Järvinen suffered from injuries and finished fifth.

Järvinen, who became known as "Mr. Javelin", was the son of Verner Järvinen, Olympic champion and two-time Bronze medalist in discus throw. His brother Akilles Järvinen was a decathlon world record holder and two-time Olympic silver medalist. His other brother Tatu was a top-level athlete in shot put.

[edit] World records

Result (m) Date Venue
71.57 August 8, 1930 Vyborg
71.70 August 17 1930 Tampere
71.88 August 31 1930 Vaasa
72.93 September 14 1930 Vyborg
74.02 June 27, 1932 Turku
74.28 May 25, 1933 Mikkeli
74.61 June 7 1933 Vaasa
76.10 June 15 1933 Helsinki
76.66 September 7 1933 Turin
77.23 June 18, 1934 Helsinki

Olympic champions in men's javelin throw
1908: Eric Lemming | 1912: Eric Lemming | 1920: Jonni Myyrä | 1924: Jonni Myyrä | 1928: Erik Lundqvist | 1932: Matti Järvinen | 1936: Gerhard Stöck | 1948: Tapio Rautavaara | 1952: Cyrus Young | 1956: Egil Danielsen | 1960: Viktor Tsybulenko | 1964: Pauli Nevala | 1968: Jānis Lūsis | 1972: Klaus Wolfermann | 1976: Miklós Németh | 1980: Dainis Kūla | 1984: Arto Härkönen | 1988: Tapio Korjus | 1992: Jan Železný | 1996: Jan Železný | 2000: Jan Železný | 2004: Andreas Thorkildsen


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