Veli Saarinen

Veli Saarinen

Saarinen in the 1930s
Personal information
Born	(1902-09-16)16 September 1902 Martinsaari, Virolahti, Finland
Died	12 October 1969(1969-10-12) (aged 67) Helsinki, Finland
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
Sport	Cross-country skiing
Club	Kouvolan Hiihtoseura Lahden Hiihtoseura
Medal record Men's cross-country skiing Representing Finland Olympic Games 1932 Lake Placid 50 km 1932 Lake Placid 18 km World Championships} 1929 Zakopane 17 km 1933 Innsbruck 50 km 1934 Sollefteå 4 × 10 km relay 1929 Zakopane 50 km 1934 Sollefteå 18 km 1926 Lahti 30 km

Veli Selim Saarinen (16 September 1902 – 12 October 1969) was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics.

In 1928, he finished fourth in the 18 km event. In 1932, he won a gold in the 50 km and a bronze in the 18 km event, becoming the first Finnish cross-country skier to win an Olympic gold medal. Yet his biggest success came at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, where he won six medals between 1926 and 1934, including three gold medals.

Domestically Saarinen won only two titles, over 50 km in 1930–31. In 1934, he retired from competitions and later coached the German (1934–1937) and Finnish (1937–1968) national cross-country skiing teams. From 1947 to 1968, he also served as a chief executive of the Finnish Skiing Federation.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games

• 2 medals – (1 gold, 1 bronze)

Year	Age	18 km	50 km
1928	25	4	—
1932	29	Bronze	Gold

World Championships

• 6 medals – (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)

Year	Age	17 km	18 km	30 km	50 km	4 × 10 km   relay
1926	23	—N/a	—N/a	Bronze	9	—N/a
1929	26	Gold	—N/a	—N/a	Silver	—N/a
1930	27	5	—N/a	—N/a	6	—N/a
1933	30	—N/a	4	—N/a	Gold	—
1934	31	—N/a	Silver	—N/a	—	Gold

External links

• Veli Saarinen at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation