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Lasse Virén: Reviving a Tradition
Prior to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany, the father of Finnish runner Lasse Virén had a dream that his son was victorious in the 10,000-metre run. Though the vision would unexpectedly prove true, it most certainly didn’t include the dramatic fashion with which Virén took the gold. The race became a story of drive and resiliency that some track coaches still use as motivation for their runners. The drama unfolded midway through the race, with Virén in fifth place, a few yards behind leader Dave Bedford of Great Britain, who in qualifying had broken the Olympic record. ...(100 of 331 words)