Education
In 1973 he finished third at the same race.
In 1973 he finished third at the same race.
During his career, Olavi Suomalainen sustained injuries and failed to qualify to the Summer Olympics or European Championships in Athletics. He took the bronze medal at the Finnish Championship Marathon in the Olympic years 1972 and 1976. However, in 1976 gold medalist Håkan Spik, silver medalist Jukka Toivola, and Lasse Virén were nominated to the Olympic Marathon.
Olavi Suomalainen is a Master of Science in Engineering.