Martti Topelius-Tolamo

Martti Topelius-Tolamo was a true all-round track and field athlete who won nine Finnish titles, set a national record in the long jump, and competed at two Olympic Games. At the national athletics championships Topelius-Tolamo won five titles in the long jump (1929–30, 1932–34), three titles in the pentathlon (1929–30, 1932), and one in the decathlon (1936). He had success at the International University Games in 1930 where he won gold in the pentathlon, followed by silver in the long jump and bronze in the pentathlon in 1933. At an athletics meet in September 1934 between Finland and Germany he set a Finnish record of 7.51 metres in the long jump that stood until 1954.

Topelius-Tolamo competed in the decathlon at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics where he finished 16th overall with a best individual placing of joint-fifth in the 400 metres. After missing the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics he returned for the 1936 Games in Berlin where he participated in the long jump and the decathlon. His results in Berlin, however, were disappointing. In the long jump all athletes who jumped further that 7.15 metres advanced to the final but Topelius-Tolamo failed to reach the mark in the qualification round. In the decathlon he had good results in the 100 metres, long jump, and 400 metres, but he failed to finish the event after not starting in the pole vault.

In 1926 and 1927 Topelius-Tolamo completed his military service before he served in the Winter War during World War II. In March 1940 he was wounded by shrapnel from a grenade and died from his injuries five days later in a war hospital.

Personal Bests: LJ – 7.51 (1934); Dec – 6177 (1936).