Career
Lehtinen ran a new world record in 5000 m (14:170) just a month prior to the Olympics, thus becoming a main favourite to the Olympic 5000 m title. In the final, the Finns Lehtinen and Lauri Virtanen led early. They managed to shake off all other competitors except Ralph Hill from the United States.
Soon the race turned into a battle between Lehtinen and Hill.
On the last lap, Hill tried to overtake Lehtinen. Seeing this, the Finn blocked his way, zig-zagging from one lane to the other to the great exasperation of the crowd.
At the finish, Lehtinen crossed first a mere 50 centimetres ahead. Although this was a common tactic in Europe, the American audience was unaccustomed to it, so they booed.
Hill declined to file a protest.
They both recorded an identical time of 14:30.0. This was the only Olympic race longer than 200 metres in which the top two finishers recorded identical times. In 1940, Lehtinen donated his Los Angeles gold medal to a soldier who had served with distinction on the Karelian Isthmus.
Lehtinen"s gesture was a mark of respect for Höckert, who was killed in action on the Isthmus.
In Kerkkoo village in Porvoo, there is a road named after him, "Lauri Lehtisen Tie.".