Finnish athlete Sameli Tala was a long-distance runner who represented Viipurin Urheilijat in Helsinki. Tala won the national title in the 5,000 metres in 1917 and 1918, and won the 1,500 metres title in 1918. At the 1924 Paris Olympics he was part of the Finnish squad that won gold in the 3,000 metres team race. In the first heat Paavo Nurmi, Ville Ritola, and Tala finished first, second, and third, respectively. In the final Tala was the fourth-best placed Finn with Nurmi, Ritola, and Elias Katz finishing ahead of him, with the team winning the event.
Personal Best: 3000 – 8:42.7 (1923).
Finland