Martti Matilainen

Martti Matilainen was a Finnish track and field athlete who specialised in middle-distance races. Matilainen won the national title in the 1,500 metres in 1934 and 1936, and the 3,000 metres steeplechase in 1934. In the steeplechase he also won three silvers (1933, 1936, 1939) and a bronze (1938), along with bronze in the 1,500 metres in 1937 and 1938. He finished fourth in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics where the finalists ran an extra lap due to an error from the officials. Two years later Matilainen finished sixth in the 1,500 metres at the 1934 European Championships in Torino, Italy. He competed at his second Olympics when he ran in the steeplechase at the 1936 Berlin Games, once again finishing fourth. His brothers Jukka and Kalle also competed at the Olympics. His son-in-law Pekka Vasala won gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1972 München Olympics.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:53.1 (1938); 3000S – 9:09.0 (1936).