Sweden v Finland

Inger Knutsson climbs to second in world rankings

Perhaps the finest result of the Finnkampen 1975 came in the women's 3000 metres, where two-year-old European junior champion Inger Knutsson blazed to a new Swedish record and the second fastest time in the world for the season with 8:51.04. European champion Nina Holmén of Finland was left nearly a straight's length behind.

Unfortunately, Knutsson's career effectively ended here. Plagued by foot problems, the dame threw in the towel already at the age of 23 in 1978.

European champion Riitta Salin of Finland won the 200 metres as well as the 400 metres with a time of 51.78. She defeated her countrywoman Pirjo Häggman in the 400, but the order was reversed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic final. 

Rajamäki makes the World Ranking 

Sweden harboured hopes of winning the dual meet, so they put their best athletes to work. Olympic champion Anders Gärderud, who had run a world record in the steeplechase a month earlier, collected 14 points by trouncing Tapio Kantanen in his favourite event and, out-kicking Pekka Päivärinta for the win in the 1500 metres. In 2024, Gärderud was ranked joint fourth on the Finnkampen's all-time points haulers list.

Antti Rajamäki snatched victory in both the 100 and 200 metres. In the curved distance, he set a new Finnish record with automatic timing of 20.69. The man from Karijoki had a good season, and Track & Field News placed him tenth in its 200m merit ranking. Only two Finns have entered this hall of fame in the half-lap: two years earlier, Ossi Karttunen, had been ranked eighth.

At the Stockholm stadium, Rajamäki drew attention with his loud running style. "The man was squealing like a pig being slaughtered," commented his Swedish rival Christer Garpenborg, who was beaten by Rajamäki in the 100 metres.

Trouble in the 5000m

In the 5000, the in-form Pekka Päivärinta held back Bengt Nåjde's pace by repeatedly cutting in front of him, which allowed Finnish team mates Ismo Toukonen and Martti Vainio to get away. In a similar manner, Nils Eklöf had sabotaged (Finnish interpretation) Paavo Nurmi's run 49 years earlier. Nåjde lost his temper and slapped Päivärinta, nicknamed "Lätsä-Pekka". A couple of laps before the finish, Päivärinta left Nåjde behind, caught Toukonen and Vainio's 50-metre lead, and broke the tape first. Later, Lätsä-Pekka and Nåjde were given red cards. "I was just playing around a bit," Päivärinta later commented.

The Nordic discus throwers were put in their place in Stockholm. Ricky Bruch launched the discus over 65 metres and wiped the floor with Markku Tuokko and European champion Pentti Kahma. The Malmö bohemian collected seven Finnkampen points for the fourth time in a row.

Junior Bryggare in record-breaking form

Future world silver medallist, Arto Bryggare, who had turned 17 in the spring, snatched victory in the juniors match's sprint hurdles with a new Finnish record for 17- and 19-year-olds with a time of 14.2. In addition, the lad from Lappeenranta took a leftover point in the 200 metres. Ari Paunonen, of the same age, sprinted to victory in the 3000 metres. Paunonen also took a leftover point in the seniors' 1500 metres.

On the first day, 47,000 spectators gathered at the Stockholm stadium. The second day was a "full house." In the 2020's, organisers have to settle for smaller crowds, unfortunately.

The Finns stormed to their fourth consecutive victory in the women's match and their sixth in the men's. The scoreboard showed:

Women Finland v Sweden: 94–62
Men Finland v Sweden: 214–191

Audiovisuals

• Men's steeplechase and Women's 3000m (Aprilfilmer) 

• Men's 5000m (SVT) 

Results and Statistics

• Seniors' complete results (Wikipedia) 

• Finnish juniors' results (Tilastopaja) 

• Statistics (Tilastopaja)