Adding to the Finnish javelin legacy – Jonni Myyra – Paris 1924 Olympic Games

Jonni Myyra arrived at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris with a fine pedigree in major international competition already under his belt. It was a time when the Scandinavian powerhouses Finland and Sweden took it in turns to share the javelin spoils; it was a national sport in both countries. Myyra finished eighth in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm and threw a marvellous Olympic record in Antwerp four years later to take the gold medal as Finns occupied all four top places. That win was all the more remarkable after he was struck in the arm by a stray javelin thrown while he rested by the side of the athletics field. Myyra easily qualified from the starting field of 29 throwers for the six-man final in Paris four years later. His winning throw of 62.96m was more than two metres further than any other athlete but some way short of the 65-66m of which he was capable. Second place went to Sweden’s Gunnar Lindstrom. Lindstrom would break Myyra’s world record at a meeting in Sweden just months after his silver medal in Paris. Find more about the Paris 1924 Olympic Games: www.olympic.org