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Lasse Viren

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Athlete

The Resume

    (July 22, 1949- )
    Born in Myrskyla, Finland
    Won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976) Summer Olympics
    Member of the Finnish Parliament (1999-2007)

Why he might be annoying:

    After he took off his shoes and waved them at the crowd during his victory lap following the 10,000 meters at Montreal, the IOC suspended him, claiming that he was violating their regulations by showing off the logo.
    He was frequently accused of blood boosting (freezing one's blood plasma, then having it re-injected to increase the red blood cell count).
    He claimed the secret to his success was drinking reindeer's milk.
    He usually did poorly at non-Olympic events.
    He said that for him the main effect of the Munich Massacre was that it pushed back the running of the 5,000 meters, giving him an extra day of rest.

Why he might not be annoying:

    The IOC lifted his suspension after he explained that he had taken his shoes off because he had a blister from the race.
    He consistently denied blood boosting and was never caught at it.
    Even if he had been boosting, the practice was not banned until 1984 anyway.
    He won gold and set a new world's record in the 10,000 meters at Munich despite having lost 20-30 meters on the leaders after falling in the twelfth lap when he got tangled up with Emiel Puttermans of Belgium.
    In retirement he has kept within ten pounds of his competitive weight.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 35.29% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 92.31% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying