Pekka Paivarinta

Education

In 1976 Olympics he competed in 5000 meters and finished 13th.

Career

He competed in 1972 Olympics at 3000-meter steeplechase finishing 8th. In 1975 he broke world record in 25000 meters running by his result 1:14:16,8. The record was broken by Bill Rodgers in 1979.

Contrary to his fellow Finnish long-distance runner — and age mate — Lasse Virén, Päivärinta underachieved in the major outdoor international championships of his active running career.

On the other hand, he defeated Virén several times in the local and national Finnish races. One apparent obstacle to his success in the major international championships was that he ran badly in hot and humid conditions.

This would partly explain his nineteenth place at 10,000 metres and thirteenth place at 5,000 metres in the 1974 European Athletics Championships, and his dropping out of the 10,000-metre heats in the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. Another reason might have been that he was also slightly mentally challenged.

800 m

Outdoor 1:52.5 (Salo 237 1978)

1 500 m

Outdoor 3:37.2 (Helsinki 286 1973),

Indoor 3:52.3 (Turku 272 1972)

Mile

Outdoor 4:05.2 (Oulu 29 1975)

2 000 m

Outdoor 5:11.0 (Laitila 28 1974)

3 000 m

Outdoor 7:57.2 (Hyvinkää 277 1975),

Indoor 7:52.97 (Rotterdam 113 1973)

5 000 m

Outdoor 13:28.51 (Helsinki 169 1973),

Indoor 13:49.0 (Turku 222 1975)

10 000 m

Outdoor 27:54.43 (Helsinki 236 1976)

25 000 m

Outdoor 1:14:16.8 (WR) (Oulu 155 1975)

Marathon

2:13:09.0 (Fukuoka 812 1974)

2 000 m steeplechase

5:46.8 (Mariehamn 98 1969)

3 000 m steeplechase

8:25.4 (Helsinki 267 1972).

Achievements

• He won men"s senior race in the first World Championships of cross-country running in 1973.