Jorma Kinnunen

World Record: 92.70m (304' 1") Tampere, Finland 18 Jun 1969

Jorma Kinnunen was the shortest of the javelin champions, standing 175 centimeters (5' 8 3/4") tall. He was known as the little giant from Aanekoski, his hometown, and was the first Finn to throw over 90 meters. He attended three Olympic Games: 1964 (when he came in sixth), 1968 (second), and 1972 (sixth).

A carpenter by profession, he set his world record at Tampere. He threw 92.70 meters on his second throw and was too excited to take any more throws. That distance was to remain his personal best. This world record was the first achieved on a synthetic (Tartan) runway. At the European Championships he was 12th in 1966, 10th in 1969 , and 5th in 1971.

He is one of the few champions whose sons have also been successful at the same event at an international level. His son Jarkko was second in the javelin at the European Junior Championships in 1989. His other son, Kimmo, won the javelin at the World Championships in Tokyo in 1991 and was fourth at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

source: World Record Breakers in Track & Field Athletics