Rain in Stockholm – Kolehmainen’s Record Stands a Little Longer

Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden, 10 September 1922

Hannes Kolehmainen's world record in the 5000 metres was proving to be resilient. Even the exceptionally fit Paavo Nurmi could not easily break it. Besides fitness, the conditions and the day’s form must align perfectly. Earlier, during late August and early September in Finland, Nurmi had already set world records in the 2000 metres  and 3000 metres. However, on September 10 in Stockholm, the conditions faltered: rain fell on the Olympic Stadium, leaving Nurmi with a time of 14:48.1.

Despite this, Finland did not return home empty-handed. Lauri Härö ran the 100 metres in 10.8 seconds, triumphing over Germany’s Hubert Houben—who had led up to the 75-metre mark—and Switzerland’s fastest man, Josef Imbach. Härö’s victory was seen as a moral Finnish record since the official record of 10.8 seconds by Uuno Railo from 1907 is considered dubious.

In Finland, Härö’s victory sparked excitement, with talk of him being the second-fastest man in Europe, behind Harry Edward of Britain.

Newspaper Stories

• Idrottsbladet, September 11, 1922 (in Swedish)

• Suomen Urheilulehti, September 12, 1922 (in Finnish)

Another Attempt – the Record Is Broken

Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden, 12 September 1922

Nurmi negotiated a new attempt with Stockholm’s organisers just two days after his previous race. He ran a steady pace, frequently checking his watch and taking the corners as tightly as Lasse Viren would decades later. With two laps to go, Nurmi was two seconds behind his timetable. He then found an extra gear, attacking the final laps with tremendous determination, breaking Kolehmainen’s seemingly unbreakable world record by 1.3 seconds. The new record was 14:35.3.

In his history of athletics, Finnish Dr. Martti Jukola vividly described the homestretch:

“Nurmi charges like a locomotive engine towards the station. 50 metres left… will he make it? 30… don’t give up!... 20… looks like he’ll do it… 10… he’s done it, done it for sure… hurrah… aa… ah!”

Houben redeemed himself for his loss to Härö by winning the 200 metres in 22.2 seconds. Härö followed closely in 22.3 seconds, but the Finnish record was not recognised due to outdated regulations prohibiting records set abroad.

Meanwhile, Arthur Holz, who had earlier in the season jumped a world-leading 14.99 metres (49-2¼), saw his form decline. In Stockholm, he managed 14.42 metres (47-4), though he still defeated pole vaulter Charles Hoff, who dabbled in multiple jumping events.

Newspaper Stories

• Uusi Suomi, September 14,  1922 (in Finnish)

• Turun Sanomat, September 14, 1922 (in Finnish)

• Hufvudstadsbladet, September 14, 1922 (in Swedish)

• Idrottsbladet, 19 September 1922 (in Swedish)

• Suomen Kuvalehti, September 23,  1922 (in Finnish)

• Suomen Urheilulehti, September  26, 1922 (in Finnish)

• Suomen Urheilulehti, October  3, 1922 (in Finnish)