Nurmi breaks two WR's

Nurmi breaks two world records in an hour, running the 1500 metres in 3:52.6 and the 5000 metres in 14:28.2

Eläintarha, Helsinki, 19.6.1924

First, the 1500m world record

Paavo Nurmi was planning to run the 1500 and 5000 metres at the Paris Olympics, which were scheduled to take place on the same afternoon. The runner tried out the two-event set at  a meet in Eläintarha, Helsinki, on 19 June. Around 3,000 to 4,000 people crowded into the stands, as the capital's newspapers had already hinted in the week of Midsummer that something special was in the works.

Nurmi's pacing for the European mile failed: he started the first lap at a crazy 57.3 seconds, so he had to slow down. The 800 metres came in at 2:01.0 and after the third ring, the stopwatches showed an intermediate time of 3:06.0. The final lap went by at 62.6 seconds, so the world record fell to 3:52.6.

Even though the pacing didn't work out, the reporter from Finnish Turun Sanomat newspaper was excited.  He described the son's pace from his hometown as demonic, if not even faster:

"Even the devil himself would have lost his shoes in that."

Then, the 5000m world record is shattered

Nurmi took a light massage in the dressing room and 50 minutes later set off to race the 5000 metres, on which he pounded out consistent 70-71 second laps. Sports journalist Sulo Kolkka shouted out the intermediate times from the infield. The world record fell by seven seconds to 14:28.2. The Turku black robe was not completely satisfied with the 5000 result either: in his own words, "I didn't unleash my best pace."

Nurmi was now in the best form of his career. He never again reached the results of 1500 or 5000 metres in his later years. At the beginning of the 1920s, the press still considered Hannes Kolehmainen to be Finland's all-time top runner, but by the time of the Paris Games, the crown had changed hands. Even the Helsingin Sanomat admitted it, writing:

"Paavo Nurmi [---] proved with his two separate races that he is the best and most brilliant runner that has ever been."