Juha Väätäinen

Väätäinen started his running career as a sprinter. He won his first junior Finnish championship in the 400 metres hurdles in 1960.[2] In 1965-67, his main event was the 800 metres, in which he won Nordic Championship in 1965, beating, for example, young Anders Gärderud.[5]

Väätäinen was coached by Paavo Meskus from 1963 until Meskus' death in 1968. However, Väätäinen was pretty independent and planned his training mostly by himself.[6] He was also interested in altitude training as early as the winter of 1966-67, when he spent seven months in Alamosa as a student.[7]

In the summer of 1968, Väätäinen trained for five weeks in Rhodes. On his return to Finland, he ran the 3000 metres in Helsinki in 8:01.0, improving his personal best by 52 seconds. The competition was won by 3000 metres steeplechase world record holder Jouko Kuha, with a new Finnish record of 7:56.6. After the 1968 season, Väätäinen decided to focus on long-distance running.[1][4]

In 1969, Väätäinen engaged in altitude training for the second time, in Cervinia.[2] He ran the 10,000 metres in 28:53.0 and the 5000 metres in 13:50.0, and was selected for the European Championships in Athens. However, he was not able to compete because of an infection he received from a drug injection due to his weak blood test results.[8][9]

In December 1969, Väätäinen stayed in Frankfurt on his trip to São Paulo. His foot slipped on the snowy road and he injured an Achilles tendon. He finished the Saint Silvester Road Race anyway, placing 26th. As his original intention was to continue training in Brazil after the race, he decided to stay in Penedo, Itatiaia. Because of the injury, his training was reduced until March 1970. However, in April 1970, he ran 1100 km.[8]

In 1970, Väätäinen improved his personal bests: 13:43.2 in the 5000 metres and 28:19.6 in the 10,000 metres. After the season, the injured Achilles tendon was operated on.[10]

In the winter of 1970-71, Väätäinen trained again in Brazil. He came in 10th at the Saint Silvester Road Race. In Penedo, he ran over 1000 km per month. In late March, he flew to Mexico City for altitude training. In Mexico, he ran 350 km per week at his height.[8] In May, he traveled to California, where he improved his 2-mile Finnish record to 8:33.0. After his return to Europe, Väätäinen continued altitude training in Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via.[10]

Returning to Finland, Väätäinen set new Finnish records in the 3000 metres (7:56.4) on 20 July in Helsinki; and the 10,000 metres (28:12.8) at the Finnish Championships on 23 July in Oulu.[4]

The 1971 European Championships 10,000 metre final was held on 10 August. The race is regarded by many as one of the greatest distance races of all time. In front of a highly excited Finnish crowd, Väätäinen was in a group of six runners at the final bell following David Bedford, who had led from the start. Väätäinen and Jürgen Haase both kicked past Bedford in a thrilling last lap "burn-up", bringing the crowd to its feet as they battled neck and neck to the line, with Väätainen just edging out Haase in a new Finnish record time of 27:52.78. Väätäinen ran the last 400 metres in 53.8 seconds.[4]

The 5000 metre final was held four days later. Väätäinen won this event as well, beating Jean Wadoux and Harald Norpoth in a new Finnish record time of 13:32.8. This race also came down to a fast last lap, with Väätäinen's flying through the last 400 meters in 53.0 seconds.[4]

In the Track & Field News annual world ranking, Väätäinen was ranked first in both the 5000 and 10,000 metres.

In the winter of 1971-72, Väätäinen trained at a high altitude in Nairobi. In summer 1972, he suffered from sciatica. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, he qualified for the 5000 metre final, but disappointed with a 13th-place finish. However, only three days later in Rome, Väätäinen improved his personal best at 5000 metres to 13:28.4. On the following day, he ran 13:35.4 in Helsinki, placing third in the same race that Lasse Virén set a new world record, clocking 13:16.4. Väätäinen ended his athletics career after the season; he attempted a comeback in 1974, but unsuccessfully.[4]