Yrjö Korholin-Koski

Yrjö Korholin-Koski ran the 1928 Olympic marathon, finishing seventh. Korholin-Koski was a Finnish carpenter who came to the United States in 1924 and settled around New York City, and in the USA he used the name Karl Koski (Karl from his full given name – Kaarlo Yrjö). He was also entered in the 1932 Olympics, oddly in the 50 km walk, although he did not compete.

Koski’s two biggest victories in the United States were the 1929 Shepard Shores Providence-to-Boston race, a 44-mile ultramarathon, and the 1930 AAU Marathon on Staten Island. In that 1930 AAU race he recorded a time of 2-25:21.2, better than the marathon world best at the time, although it was felt that the course was short.

Koski raced multiple times at the Boston Marathon but never quite won it. He placed second in 1927 to Clarence DeMar and 1929 (to John Miles (CAN)), and third in 1930 and 1931. At the AAU Championships he was also runner-up in 1927 (also to DeMar) and 1931 and finished fifth in 1925, as he also did at the 1934 Boston Marathon. He placed fourth in his only attempt at the Polytechnic Marathon in London, the 1930 AAA Championship.

Koski eventually retired to Florida where he died in 1978.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-35:11 (1928).