Arto Bryggare remembers the late Pauli Nevala.
Pauli Nevala was a man of contradictions. Picture from 2015, when the spear crowd gathered in Jyväskylä to reconcile the quarrel on the spear calendar. Mika Kanerva
Late spear throwing Pauli Nevala Given the opinions of the grain in the Finnish sports community.
– Conflicting personality. He gave pretty tough statements, of all I didn’t really like. A top athlete, at its best in the early 1970s, says Iltalehti Athletics Expert Arto Bryggare.
Nevala was a very mouthpiece type.
– These two Veikko, Nevala and Jorma Kinnunenbelonged to the series of journalists. Opinions came, and not the most modest end, Bryggare laughs.
He remembers a competition that was moved due to Nevala.
– Pauli announced that we were fishing with Jorm, move the start of the race for an hour, then we will come, Bryggare describes.
– Another detail that came to my mind is the frequent repetition of Paul: who today wants to be second.
Nevala was happy to share his views to active athletes and the media. He was able to argue about the rights of the spear calendar and be the opposite shore.
For others, he was a very well -liked, even beloved spear.
– Pauli was one of the most watched athletes in his active career in Finland. Although he fired hard, he also did hard deeds. Finns love people who say loud and succeed.
The hand broke down
Pauli Nevala’s style sample from 1966. IL Archive
In 1964, Nevala achieved Olympic gold and 1969 European silver.
– The Olympic gold came at a time when Pauli was just rising. In 1970, Pauli threw 90 meters, had a rain or heat. At that time, Paul’s annoyance was no value races, Bryggare says.
Nevala was born in 1940.
– Unfortunately, the career was a bit short partly due to internships. The hand broke up on an African trip in 1971 and his career was in all that.
Bryggare calls Nevala a hero.
– The spear throwing Olympic champion is something incredible in Finland. He is part of the long list of Finnish heroes.