Career
Salminen became one of the best long-distance runners in the 1930s when he began his international athletics career in 1934 by winning the 10,000 m and taking bronze in 5000 m at the first European Championships in Turin, thus becoming a main favorite at the Olympic 10,000 m run. At the Berlin Olympics, Salminen, at first took the sixth place at the 5000 m final. In the next season, Salminen ran a new 10,000 m world record of 30:05.6.
He also ran a new world record in six miles.
Salminen finished his international career by winning the gold medal in 10,000 m at the 1938 European Championships and retired from athletics after the next season. He later became a sports official and headed the organizing committee of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.