Henry Nielsen

In the 1930s Henry Nielsen was the best long-distance runner in Denmark and won multiple national titles, in addition to setting a world record. Nielsen spent the early part of his career running in Finland where he was able to train with world-leading Finnish athletes. He won his first Danish title in 1930 with victory in the 5,000 metres, with him winning silver in the same event the following year. He won more national titles with wins in the 8km cross-country race (1933), 5,000 metres (1933–34, 1936, 1938), 10,000 metres (1933–34), and the 1,500 metres (1935).

In July 1934 Nielsen set a world record in the 3,000 metres at a meet in Stockholm when he ran 8:18.3, which was later rounded up to 8:18.4 by the IAAF. Two months later he won bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 1934 European Athletics Championships in Torino, Italy. Nielsen was originally scheduled to run in the marathon at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, but he did not start the race. He would eventually compete at the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 when he ran in the 5,000 metres. Despite his impressive success in Denmark, however, he finished seventh in his heat and did not progress to the final. Nielsen’s career came to an ignominious end after he was banned from running after accepting prize money while competing as an amateur.

Personal Best: 5000 – 14:52.6 (1934).