Harry Larva 823331 188809906 2008-02-03T15:02:49Z Tiyoringo 2782973 +[[ja:ハリ・ラルバ]] {{MedalTop}} {{MedalSport|Men's [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Athletics]]}} {{MedalGold|[[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Amsterdam]]|[[Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1500 metres]]}} {{MedalBottom}} '''Harri Edvin Larva''', born '''Harry Edvin Lagerström''' ([[September 9]], [[1906]] – [[November 11]], [[1980]]) was a [[Finland|Finnish]] [[Athletics (track and field)|athlete]], winner of 1500 [[Metre|m]] at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]]. Born in [[Turku]], Harry Larva was forced to change his last name from Lagerström to Larva in 1928 by a young president of Finnish Athletics Union and known [[nationalist]] [[Urho Kekkonen|Urho Kaleva Kekkonen]], because his name didn't sound as Finnish. Larva, a Finnish champion in 800 m from [[1928]] to [[1930]] and in [[1934]], won only one bronze ([[1927]]) in his favourite distance 1500 m at Finnish Championships. Harry Larva's best year was in 1928, when he ran all his best performances in distances from 400 m to a mile. At the [[Summer Olympics]] in [[Amsterdam]], in a 1500 m. final, Larva held a great battle against [[France|Frenchman]] [[Jules Ladoumegue|Jules Ladoumègue]], and surprisingly won in a time of 3:53.2. Larva competed also at the [[1932 Summer Olympics]] and finished 10th in a 1500 m. {{Footer Olympic Champions 1500 m Men}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Larva, Harry}} [[Category:1906 births]] [[Category:1980 deaths]] [[Category:Finnish athletes]] [[Category:Middle distance runners]] [[Category:People from Turku]] [[Category:Olympic athletes of Finland]] [[Category:Athletes at the 1928 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Athletes at the 1932 Summer Olympics]] {{Finland-athletics-bio-stub}} [[de:Harry Larva]] [[fr:Harry Larva]] [[ja:ハリ・ラルバ]] [[no:Harry Larva]] [[pt:Harry Larva]] [[fi:Harri Larva]]