The exhibition of the Monnaie de Paris museum, opened in honor of the Paris Olympics, tells about the history of Olympic medals, and the Finnish running legend has been placed at the center of it.
PARIS
Endurance runner Paavo Nurmi’s gold medals have returned to the Parisian mint, where they were minted in 1924. Grandson Mika Nurmi and Olympic champion Lasse Virén were present when the Finnish star’s five gold medals were presented at the celebratory exhibition of the money museum Monnaie de Paris.
– Of course, it’s great to see the medals here in Paris, even though they are now a hundred years old. Paavo was among the group that put Finland on the world map. First there was Kolehmainen and then Ritola and partners, but Paavo is number one, says four-time Olympic champion Virén.
Grandson Mika Nurmi says that grandfather’s medals used to travel to Paris in a briefcase.
– We were prepared to present official documents, but they did not raise any questions, says Nurmi.
Nurmi’s medals are now on display abroad for the first time
Nurme’s medals have never been presented abroad before – and his record of five gold medals at the Paris Olympics has never been beaten in athletics.
– The medals have been in a few exhibitions over the years, but mainly they have been kept in the family circle. It’s great that he has played sports and succeeded because of it, but to me he has always been a normal grandfather, says Mika Nurmi.
The exhibition that opened on Tuesday at the prestigious Monnaie de Paris museum in Paris presents the history of the Olympics and Olympic medals. Most of the Olympic medals have been struck at the Paris mint, whose museum is the Monnaie de Paris.
Nurmi was creating a modern-day superstar in sports
The exhibition has been opened in honor of the anniversary of the Olympics and it is also a big tribute to Finnish athletics.
– Nurmi’s medals tell not only the history of the Olympics, but also the story of one athlete. They really sum up the whole idea of this exhibition and it is symbolically significant to have them in Paris right now, says Monnaie de Paris curator Dominique Antérion.
According to Antérion, flying Finns, les finlandais volant, is a familiar concept to the French as well.
– Paavo Nurmi is extremely interesting as a person: he knew how to take advantage of his success and build his image. Nurmi has been creating the modern-day superstar of the sport.
The exhibition, which will last beyond the Olympics, is expected to be popular
A Parisian woman walking around the exhibition and stopping in front of Paavo Nurme’s gold medals says she had never heard of the Finnish runner before.
– Fascinating story! I would like to know more about him. Going through the history of the Olympics through the medals is generally really fascinating, says Camille Barrot.
Cuban tourist Carlos Pupo examines the poster of the 1924 Olympics in Paris and the signboard about Nurme. The Finnish legend reminds him of the Cuban runner Alberto Juantorena, who won two gold medals at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
– Nurme’s victory must have been a similar source of pride for your nation. It’s great that you remember your running hero like this after a hundred years, says Juantorena.
The exhibition presenting the history of Olympic medals is open in Paris until September 22.