Verner Järvinen
Encyclopedia
Venne "Verner" Järvinen (March 4, 1870, Ruovesi
– January 31, 1941) was a Finnish
athlete who competed mostly in the throwing events. A gold medalist in the Greek-style discus from the 1906 Intercalated Games, he went on to win a bronze in the same event at the 1908 Summer Olympics
.
, he switched to athletics with that sport's raising 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.
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 May 1, Järvinen won the gold in a somewhat confusing Greek-style discus competition.
At the 1908 Summer Olympics
in London
, Great Britain
, Järvinen finished third in the Greek-style discus and fourth in the regular discus. Both competitions were won by Sheridan. Järvinen also competed in the shot and the javelin, but without any notable success.
Järvinen appeared at the Olympics for one more time in 1912
, this time competing only in the discus. At age 42, he finished 15th in the regular discus and 12th in the both hands competition.
– would become noted Olympians in their own right. Kalle Järvinen broke the European record
in men's shot put
with a 1927 mark of 15.17, and competed in that event at the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
. Aki Järvinen was a two-time Olympic silver medalist and a world record holder in the decathlon
, while Matti was even more successful in the javelin
, winning the Olympic gold in 1932 and breaking the world record no less than ten times. All of the sons were originally coached by their father.
Ruovesi
Ruovesi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the Pirkanmaa region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish....
– January 31, 1941) was a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
athlete who competed mostly in the throwing events. A gold medalist in the Greek-style discus from the 1906 Intercalated Games, he went on to win a bronze in the same event at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
.
Career
Originally one of Finland's leading wrestlersWrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, he switched to athletics with that sport's raising popularity in early 20th century Finland. Järvinen established national records in both discus throw
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
and hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
, yet the latter would be the one throwing event in which he never competed at an Olympics.
At his first Olympics in Athens 1906
1906 Summer Olympics
The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee...
(now no longer officially recognized by the IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
), 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
Ralph Rose
Ralph Waldo Rose was an American track and field athlete.He was born in Healdsburg, California....
), but was disqualified for throwing the shot. In the javelin he finished fifth behind four Swedes
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, less than a meter behind silver medalist Knut Lindberg
Knut Lindberg
Knut Lindberg was a Swedish athlete. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm....
. In the discus he finished third, with defending champion Martin Sheridan
Martin Sheridan
Martin John Sheridan was "one of the greatest athletes [the United States] has ever known" according to his obituary in the New York Times. He was born in Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland and died in St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, New York, the day before his 37th birthday, a very early casualty...
taking the top spot. Finally, on May 1, Järvinen won the gold in a somewhat confusing Greek-style discus competition.
At the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Järvinen finished third in the Greek-style discus and fourth in the regular discus. Both competitions were won by Sheridan. Järvinen also competed in the shot and the javelin, but without any notable success.
Järvinen appeared at the Olympics for one more time in 1912
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
, this time competing only in the discus. At age 42, he finished 15th in the regular discus and 12th in the both hands competition.
Legacy
Three of his four sons – Kalle, Aki and MattiMatti Järvinen
Matti Henrikki Järvinen 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...
– would become noted Olympians in their own right. Kalle Järvinen broke the European record
European records in athletics
European records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the European Athletic Association. Records are kept for all events contested at the Olympic Games and some others. Unofficial records for some other events are kept by track and field statisticians...
in men's shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
with a 1927 mark of 15.17, and competed in that event at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Aki Järvinen was a two-time Olympic silver medalist and a world record holder in the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
, while Matti was even more successful in the javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
, winning the Olympic gold in 1932 and breaking the world record no less than ten times. All of the sons were originally coached by their father.