Flying Finn (sports)

"The Flying Finn" ( _fi. Lentävä suomalainen) was a nickname given to several Finnish middle and long-distance runners. The term has such international renown that it is often attached to notable Finnish sportsmen whose exploits are fleet of foot or have to do with fast cars.

Running

The nickname was first used of Hannes Kolehmainen, also known as "Smiling Hannes", as he took home three gold medals and broke two world records during the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. [cite web | title=1912 Stockholm | work=CBC | url=http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/2004/1912.html | accessdate=2006-12-29] As Finnish runners started to dominate long-distance running, the nickname was passed on to all successful Finns in the sport, including multi-Olympic gold medalists Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola. Nurmi won three gold medals at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Belgium and five at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he was partnered with Ritola, who ran to four gold medals. Volmari Iso-Hollo, the winner of 3000m steeplechase at the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics, was one of the best-known Finnish runners in the 1930s and also nicknamed the Flying Finn. During his tour of the United States in 1940, Taisto Mäki - who held five world records - was regularly referred to as a Flying Finn.cite web|year=1940|title=Pony Express| work=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,763816,00.html|accessdate=2008-08-25] The last Flying Finn in running was Lasse Virén, who won the 5000m and 10,000m events at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.

Motorsport

were often referred to as Flying Finns.

The first one to carry the nickname in Formula One was Leo Kinnunen. Kinnunen had the title written on his helmet in 1970, when he won the World Sportscar Championship for Porsche. [cite web | author=Nieminen, Jamie | title=Flying Finns - 50 vuotta autourheilun historiaa | work=Turun Sanomat | url=http://www.turunsanomat.fi/ajassa/?ts=1,3:1007:0:0,4:7:0:1:2001-04-28,104:7:70829,1:0:0:0:0:0: | accessdate=2006-12-29 | language=Finnish] However, he wasn't able to turn his success in sports car racing into a successful F1 career in his underpowered Surtees. Thus, Keke Rosberg became the first well-known Finn in the sport as he won the championship in 1982. Unarguably the most famous Flying Finn of the past years has been Mika Häkkinen who won the F1 championship twice 1998-1999 and also raced in DTM between 2005 and 2007. Kimi Räikkönen replaced Häkkinen at McLaren-Mercedes in 2002, and has also been referred to as the Flying Finn, very rarely though As his nickname has always been the Iceman. He was joined on the 2007 grid by fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen and would win the title himself that season.

On two wheels, the most famous Flying Finn was Jarno Saarinen, also known as "The Baron", who won the 250cc road racing World Championship as privateer in 1972, and finished a close second to Giacomo Agostini in the 350cc class. Saarinen died the following year, while leading both the 250cc and 500cc championships and after competing for only three years. He remains in motorcycle sport history books for developing a new riding style, which is still predominantly in use today; body hanging off the bike with knee near the ground. [cite web | author=McComisky, John | title=The Flying Finn | work=BikeSportNews | url=http://www.bikesportnews.com/bsn.nsf/News/EAC5A9B5C154F8B080256B9C00473E43?OpenDocument | accessdate=2006-12-29] Mika Kallio, who finished second in the 125cc championship in 2005 and 2006, has also been nicknamed the Flying Finn.

Other Flying Finns

* Janne Ahonen – ski jumper
* Markku Alén – rally driver
* Marcus Grönholm – rally driver
* Toni Haikonen – snowmobile racer
* Mikko Hirvonen – rally driver
* Joonas Kylmakorpi – speedway rider
* Jari-Matti Latvala – rally driver
* Heikki Mikkola – motocross racer
* Matti Nykänen – ski jumper
* Kalle Palander – alpine skier
* Jarno Saarinen – motorcycle racer (1945 – 1973)
* Juha Salminen – enduro rider
* Timo Salonen – rally driver
* Teemu Selanne – ice hockey player
* Henri Toivonen – rally driver
* Ari Vatanen – rally driver
* juha Kankunen rally driver
* Keke Rosberg Formula1 driver
* Mika Hakinen formula1 driver
* Tommi makinen Rally driver
* Marcus Gronholm Rally driver

References

External links

* [http://www.flyingfinns.com Flying Finns - Famous Finnish Rally Drivers]