Paavo Pystynen

In addition to being a successful long-distance runner Finland’s Paavo Pystynen also competed in orienteering and cross-country skiing. Pystynen finished in second place in the Boston Marathon in 1962 and in fourth place in 1964. At the Nordic Championships he won silver in 1963 followed by bronze in 1965 and 1968. Pystynen won multiple national titles including cross-country running (1960–61), the 10,000 metres (1961), and the marathon (1963). At the World Championships he won silver in the cross-country race (1963) and the marathon (1964), along with bronze in the 10,000 metres (1958) and the marathon (1962, 1965–66). Pystynen ran in the marathon at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where he finished in 20th place.

In orienteering Pystynen won three veteran world championship titles in the 1990s and was still competing in the sport in the 2010s. In addition to his sporting career he was a youth coach in both running and orienteering.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-19:18 (1968).