Sulo Nurmela

Sulo Nurmela

Sulo Nurmela in 1937
Personal information
Born	13 February 1908 Onkamaa, Miehikkälä, Finland
Died	13 August 1999 (aged 91) Hamina, Finland
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	62–69 kg (137–152 lb)
Sport
Sport	Cross-country skiing
Club	Vehkaladen Veikot
Medal record Men's cross-country skiing Representing Finland Olympic Games 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen 4 × 10 km relay World Championships 1934 Sollefteå 18 km 1934 Sollefteå 4 × 10 km relay 1935 Vysoké Tatry 4 × 10 km relay

Sulo Nurmela (13 February 1908 – 13 August 1999) was a Finnish cross-country skier. He won a gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics in the 4 × 10 km relay and served as the Finnish flag bearer at those games.

Nurmela won two world titles in 1934: in the individual 18 km and 4 × 10 km relay events. While traveling to Czechoslovakia to the next world championships he became ill with a high fever and had to withdraw from his individual races. Yet he felt obliged to compete in the relay, as Finland had sent only four skiers, and there was no substitute. His first three teammates gained a two-minute lead, and Nurmela managed to finish more than a minute ahead of the competitors and win his third world title.

Nurmela won three races in the Lahti Ski Games: 17 km in 1934 and 1937 and 50 km in 1937. He retired after placing eighth over 50 km at the 1938 World Championships. He worked as a farmer most of his life.

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games

• 1 medal – (1 gold)

Year	Age	18 km	50 km	4 × 10 km   relay
1936	28	7	—	Gold

World Championships

• 3 medals – (3 gold)

Year	Age	18 km	50 km	4 × 10 km   relay
1934	26	Gold	—	Gold
1935	27	—	—	Gold
1938	30	—	8	—

External links

• Sulo Nurmela at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
• Sulo Nurmela at databaseOlympics at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 October 2007)