Paavo Nurmi, known as the “Flying Finn,” was one of the greatest distance runners in history. On August 23, 1923, he amazed the sports world by setting a new world record in the mile run, clocking an incredible time of 4 minutes and 10.4 seconds in Stockholm, Sweden. This record showed just how far athletic performance had come—Nurmi ran each of the first three quarters in exactly 63 seconds, finishing his last lap even faster at 61.4 seconds.

Nurmi’s achievement wasn’t just about speed. He changed the way runners approached their races. Instead of starting slow or saving energy for a final sprint, he used a stopwatch to keep a steady and fast pace throughout the race. This approach helped him stay ahead of his rivals and push the boundaries of human endurance. For eight years, no one could beat his mile record. At the same time, he held world records in the mile, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters—a unique feat still unmatched today.

This record-breaking run was just one highlight of Nurmi’s legendary career, which included nine gold medals and three silvers across several Olympic Games. His training, discipline, and innovation cemented his place among the all-time sports greats.