Photo: Pentti Koskinen / Helsingin Sanomat—Public domain

Lasse Virén

Birth dateJul 22, 1949

Height-

Weight-

Lasse Virén is a Finland middle-distance runner, born on July 22, 1949. He competes primarily in the 1500m, Mile and 3000m.

His personal bests include 3:41.8h in the 1500m, 4:01.6h in the Mile, 7:43.2h in the 3000m, 13:16.3h in the 5000m and 27:38.35 in the 10000m. He has earned 4 gold and 2 bronze medals in major international competitions. He is currently active on the international athletics circuit, representing Finland.

Key facts

2 Miles

8:14.0h

10 000 m

27:38.35

#521 all-time

1988 season best

1:09:50

Jul 24, 1988 · South Shields (GBR)

1988 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 4 gold

Record

National record · 3000 m 7:43.2h

National record

Age

77 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 2 Miles 8:14.0h, 10 000 m 27:38.35 (#521 all-time), 1988 season best 1:09:50 (Jul 24, 1988, South Shields (GBR)) · Olympic Games: 4 gold · National record (3000 m) · 77 years old

Personal bests

3:41.8HT

4:01.6HT

7:43.2HT

13:16.3HT

27:38.35

1:09:50

2:13:11

5:08.6HT

44:05

48:27

8:14.0HT

1:15:40

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	4	-	-	4

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1988	Semi	1:09:50	-	Jul 24, 1988	-	South Shields (GBR)
1980	5000m	13:30.88	-	Aug 13, 1980	↓	Zürich (SUI)
1980	10000m	27:50.46	-	Jul 27, 1980	↑	Lenin Stadium, Moskva (URS)
1980	15Kilometr	44:05	-	May 4, 1980	-	Far Hills, NJ (USA)
1979	5000m	13:32.2h	-	Sep 8, 1979	↓	Leuven (BEL)
1979	10000m	28:04.69	-	Sep 4, 1979	↑	Bruxelles (BEL)
1979	10MilesRoa	48:27	-	Sep 22, 1979	↑	Lynchburg, VA (USA)
1978	3000m	7:57.24	-	May 25, 1978	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1978	5000m	13:33.76	-	Jun 15, 1978	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1978	10000m	28:11.8h	-	Jun 29, 1978	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1978	10MilesRoa	52:08	-	Sep 16, 1978	↑	Lynchburg, VA (USA)
1978	25Kilometr	1:15:40	-	Apr 29, 1978	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1977	5000m	13:35.8h	-	Aug 28, 1977	↓	Stockholm (SWE)
1977	10000m	28:39.8h	-	Aug 7, 1977	↑	Pietarsaari (FIN)
1976	1500m	3:41.8h	-	Jun 29, 1976	-	Lappeenranta (FIN)
1976	Mile	4:01.6h	-	Aug 19, 1976	-	Vammala (FIN)
1976	3000m	7:54.2h	-	Jun 25, 1976	↓	Keuruu (FIN)
1976	2Miles	8:21.47	-	Aug 4, 1976	↓	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
1976	5000m	13:24.76	-	Jul 30, 1976	↓	Olympic Stadium, Montréal (CAN)
1976	10000m	27:40.38	-	Jul 26, 1976	↑	Olympic Stadium, Montréal (CAN)
1976	Marathon	2:13:11	-	Jul 31, 1976	-	Olympic Stadium, Montréal (CAN)
1975	3000m	7:55.6h	-	Jun 27, 1975	↓	Västerås (SWE)
1975	5000m	13:34.51	-	Jun 25, 1975	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1975	10000m	28:11.4h	-	Aug 30, 1975	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1974	2Miles	8:25.68	-	Sep 13, 1974	↓	London (GBR)
1974	5000m	13:24.57	-	Sep 8, 1974	↓	Roma European Championships
1974	10000m	28:22.6h	-	Sep 21, 1974	↑	Sochi (URS)
1973	5000m	13:28.0h	-	Jun 27, 1973	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1973	10000m	28:17.8h	-	May 27, 1973	↑	Helsinki (FIN)
1972	2000m	5:08.6h	-	Sep 21, 1972	-	Riihimäki (FIN)
1972	3000m	7:43.2h	-	Jul 27, 1972	↓	Oulu (FIN)
1972	2Miles	8:14.0h	-	Aug 14, 1972	↓	Stockholm (SWE)
1972	5000m	13:16.3h	-	Sep 14, 1972	↓	Helsinki (FIN)
1972	10000m	27:38.35	-	Sep 3, 1972	↑	Olympiastadion, München (GER)
1972	25Kilometr	1:17:01	-	Oct 22, 1972	↑	Morskom (FIN)
1971	5000m	13:29.8h	-	Aug 22, 1971	↓	Heinola (FIN)
1971	10000m	28:17.4h	-	Jul 1, 1971	↑	Helsinki (FIN)

1988

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Semi	1:09:50	-	Jul 24	South-Shields, South Shields

1980

5 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
5000m	13:30.88	-	Aug 13	Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
10000m	27:50.46	-	Jul 27	The XXII Olympic Games, Lenin Stadium, Moskva
10000m	28:45.72	-	Jul 24	The XXII Olympic Games, Lenin Stadium, Moskva
10000m	28:10.95	-	Jul 9	-
15Kilometr	44:05	-	May 4	Midland Run, Far Hills, NJ

1979

8 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
10MilesRoa	48:27	-	Sep 22	Lynchburg, VA
5000m	13:32.2HT	-	Sep 8	Leuven
5000m	13:37.1HT	-	Sep 6	Koblenz
10000m	28:04.69	-	Sep 4	Bruxelles Memorial van Damme, Bruxelles
10000m	28:49.3HT	-	Sep 1	Stockholm SWE-FIN, Stockholm
10000m	28:24.16	-	Aug 13	Helsinki NC, Helsinki
5000m	13:43.08	-	Jul 25	Paavo Nurmi Games, Turku
5000m	13:48.2HT	-	Jul 17	Kouvola

1978

8 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
10MilesRoa	52:08	-	Sep 16	Virginia, Lynchburg, VA
5000m	13:49.0HT	-	Aug 4	Kokkola NC, Kokkola
5000m	13:37.0HT	-	Jul 10	Kouvola FIN-ITA, Kouvola
10000m	28:11.8HT	-	Jun 29	Helsinki
5000m	13:33.76	-	Jun 15	Helsinki
3000m	7:57.24	-	May 25	Helsinki
25Kilometr	1:15:40	-	Apr 29	Helsinki
5000m	13:58.7HT	-	Jan 21	Christchurch

1977

3 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
5000m	13:35.8HT	-	Aug 28	Stockholm SWE-FIN, Stockholm
5000m	13:38.4HT	-	Aug 18	Kouvola
10000m	28:39.8HT	-	Aug 7	Pietarsaari

1976

25 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
10000m	28:46.21	-	Sep 4	Helsinki vsFIN, Helsinki
5000m	13:51.4HT	-	Aug 26	Lappeenranta
5000m	13:49.2HT	-	Aug 24	Jyväskylä
2Miles	8:40.4HT	-	Aug 22	Gateshead
Mile	4:01.6HT	-	Aug 19	Vammala
5000m	13:37.2HT	-	Aug 16	Tampere
1500m	3:43.0HT	-	Aug 15	Oulu
5000m	13:39.34	-	Aug 12	Turku
5000m	13:43.65	-	Aug 10	Helsinki
Mile	4:02.89	-	Aug 9	Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
2Miles	8:35.34	-	Aug 6	Edinburgh
2Miles	8:21.47	-	Aug 4	Philadelphia, PA
Marathon	2:13:11	-	Jul 31	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal
5000m	13:24.76	-	Jul 30	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal
5000m	13:33.39	-	Jul 28	The XXI Olympic Games
10000m	27:40.38	-	Jul 26	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal
10000m	28:14.95	-	Jul 23	The XXI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Montréal
3000m	7:54.8HT	-	Jul 6	Nyköping
1500m	3:44.22	-	Jul 4	Turku NC, Turku
5000m	13:24.78	-	Jul 2	Turku NC, Turku
1500m	3:41.8HT	-	Jun 29	Lappeenranta
1500m	3:43.9HT	-	Jun 26	Saarijärvi
3000m	7:54.2HT	-	Jun 25	Keuruu
10000m	27:42.95	-	Jun 23	Helsinki
5000m	14:07.3HT	-	Jun 16	Laitila

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Lasse Virén's 2 Miles personal best?

Lasse Virén's 2 Miles personal best is 8:14.0h, set on Aug 14, 1972 in Stockholm (SWE).

Which events does Lasse Virén compete in?

Lasse Virén competes in the 2 Miles and 10 000 m.

How did Lasse Virén perform in 1988?

1988 season best: 1:09:50, set on Jul 24, 1988 in South Shields (GBR).

How many medals has Lasse Virén won?

Lasse Virén has won 4 Olympic Games medals.

Lasse Virén

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1988

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

Honours

Frequently asked questions