Concerning the year 1972 and the Summer Olympics in Munich, he says, “That was when the TV licence fee still worked. Lasse Virén and Pekka Vasala both won.”
In Munich he won the 1500 m race in a time of 3 minutes 36.3 seconds, ahead of the legendary Kip Keino and Rod Dixon.
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With a medal in every track event from 1500 to 10,000 meters, three gold and one bronze (Tapio Kantanen in the 3000 meter steeplechase) Finnish athletes achieved a level of success not seen since the era of the "Flying Finns" (1912-1936).
Esa-Pekka Salonen | Jukka-Pekka Saraste | Pekka Pyykkö | Pekka Vasala | Pekka Kuusisto | Pekka Janhunen | Pekka Ala-Pietilä | Juha-Pekka Haataja | Ari-Pekka Hakala | Pekka Streng | Pekka Salminen | Pekka Ruuska | Pekka Puska | Pekka Päivärinta | Pekka Niemelä | Pekka Koskela | Pekka Korhonen |