1. Overview
Pauli Lauri Nevala, born on November 30, 1940, in Pohja, Finland, is a former Finnish javelin thrower who achieved significant international success, most notably winning the gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. His career was marked by periods of both dominance and stagnation, including a major resurgence in 1969 and 1970 where he was ranked as the world's best javelin thrower. Nevala's career also involved controversial aspects, such as his admitted use of anabolic steroids at a time when they were not prohibited, and a notable protest against the Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. His competitive career concluded abruptly in 1971 due to a severe shoulder injury.
2. Early Life and Career
2.1. Birth and Early Life
Pauli Lauri Nevala was born on November 30, 1940, in Pohja, a municipality located in Uusimaa, Finland. Details of his very early life and upbringing are not extensively documented, but he eventually developed into a prominent javelin thrower. He represented the sports club Teuvan Rivakka from Teuva. Nevala's physical attributes included a height of 5.8 ft (1.77 m) and a weight typically ranging between 172 lb (78 kg) and 194 lb (88 kg) during his competitive years.
2.2. International Debut and Early Competitions
Nevala's entry into major international competition occurred at the 1962 European Athletics Championships held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). In this debut, he participated in the qualification round but did not advance to the final. The following year, 1963, marked a significant step forward in his career. On July 16, 1963, in Helsinki, Finland, Nevala achieved a new personal best throw of 283 ft (86.33 m), which also stood as a new national record for Finland at the time. This impressive throw placed him among the top echelon of javelin throwers globally, coming very close to the then-standing world record of 285 ft (86.74 m).
3. Peak Career and Major Achievements
Pauli Nevala's peak career years were highlighted by his Olympic gold medal in 1964 and a dominant 1970 season, alongside other strong performances in European Championships and setting personal bests.
3.1. 1964 Tokyo Olympics Gold Medal
Leading up to the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Nevala faced significant challenges, struggling to consistently throw over 262 ft (80 m). Consequently, he was not considered a favorite for the javelin throw event. However, he managed to clear the Olympic qualification round with relative ease. Notably, Terje Pedersen of Norway, the reigning world record holder at the time, failed to qualify for the final, marking a surprising early exit for a top contender. In the final, Nevala displayed remarkable confidence from the outset. He took the lead with his fourth throw, achieving a distance of 271 ft (82.66 m). This throw proved to be his best performance of the year and was ultimately sufficient to secure the gold medal, narrowly surpassing Gergely Kulcsár of Hungary.
3.2. Personal Best Records and World Record Proximity
Nevala's career saw him achieve several impressive personal bests that placed him among the world's elite javelin throwers. His 1963 national record of 283 ft (86.33 m), thrown in Helsinki, was remarkably close to the world record at the time, being only 1.3 ft (0.41 m) short. Later in his career, during a highly successful 1970 season, Nevala set an even more outstanding personal best of 304 ft (92.64 m). This throw, also achieved in Helsinki on September 6, 1970, came within a mere 0.2 ft (0.06 m) of Jorma Kinnunen's then-world record, underscoring Nevala's consistent ability to challenge the highest marks in the sport.
3.3. European Championships Performance
Nevala's participation in the European Athletics Championships yielded varied results throughout his career. At the 1966 European Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, he finished in fourth place. Three years later, in a significant career resurgence, Nevala competed at the 1969 European Athletics Championships in Athens, Greece. In this event, he secured the silver medal, finishing second only to the legendary Jānis Lūsis of the Soviet Union.
3.4. 1970 Season: Dominant Performance
The year 1970 marked the most dominant period of Pauli Nevala's career, establishing him as arguably the best javelin thrower in the world. During this season, he won an impressive 50 out of his 55 competitions. His throws consistently reached elite distances: he surpassed 295 ft (90 m) in five competitions, exceeded 279 ft (85 m) in 32 competitions, and threw over 262 ft (80 m) in 52 competitions. Nevala's average for his top 10 throws of the season was 296 ft (90.12 m), and his all-season average stood at 282 ft (85.86 m). In recognition of his exceptional performance, Nevala was ranked as the world's number one javelin thrower by Track & Field News, in addition to achieving the world's best performance of the year with his personal best of 304 ft (92.64 m).
4. Later Career and Challenges
Nevala's career after his Olympic victory experienced periods of decline and challenges, including a controversial Olympic exit and a career-ending injury.
4.1. Post-Olympic Career and Stagnation
Following his gold medal victory at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Pauli Nevala's career experienced a period of stagnation. His performance levels did not consistently match his Olympic form. This decline was evident at the 1966 European Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he finished in fourth place, failing to medal.
4.2. 1968 Olympic Qualification Failure
Nevala's attempt to defend his Olympic title at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, was cut short in the qualification round. During the competition, his longest throw was controversially declared "flat," a ruling that prevented him from advancing to the final. This decision effectively ended his participation in the Games prematurely and sparked debate regarding the fairness of the judgment.
4.3. 1969 Resurgence and Performance Factors
In 1969, Nevala's career experienced a significant resurgence. He repeatedly broke his personal best, which had stood for six years, culminating in an impressive throw of 300 ft (91.4 m) in his hometown of Teuva. This remarkable comeback was openly attributed by Nevala himself to his use of anabolic steroids. It is important to note that at that time, anabolic steroids were not yet prohibited in sports, placing his use within a different ethical and regulatory context compared to later periods in athletics.
4.4. Protest and Career-Ending Injury
In 1970, Pauli Nevala, along with fellow Finnish javelin thrower Jorma Kinnunen, engaged in a notable protest against the Finnish Amateur Athletic Association. As a form of dissent, they intentionally fouled all their qualification throws at the 1970 Finnish Championships. This protest aimed to highlight issues concerning athlete support and eventually led to the implementation of an improved stipend system for athletes in Finland. However, Nevala's competitive career came to an abrupt end in April 1971. During his very first competition of the year, held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, he sustained a severe shoulder injury. The injury was so debilitating that it prevented him from ever throwing seriously again, forcing his retirement from the sport.
5. Assessment and Legacy
5.1. Performance Statistics and Career Evaluation
Pauli Nevala's career as a javelin thrower is marked by significant achievements and impressive statistics, particularly during his peak years. His gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics stands as his most prominent accomplishment. He set a national record of 283 ft (86.33 m) in 1963 and later achieved a personal best of 304 ft (92.64 m) in 1970, which was just 0.2 ft (0.06 m) shy of the world record at the time. The 1970 season was exceptionally strong, with Nevala winning 50 out of 55 competitions and consistently throwing over 262 ft (80 m), 279 ft (85 m), and 295 ft (90 m). His top 10 average for that season was 296 ft (90.12 m), and his overall season average was 282 ft (85.86 m). These statistics underscore his status as a world-class athlete during his prime, culminating in his ranking as the world's number one javelin thrower by Track & Field News in 1970.
5.2. Controversies and Ethical Considerations
Pauli Nevala's career is notable not only for his athletic achievements but also for certain controversial aspects. One significant point is his open admission of using anabolic steroids, which he attributed to his resurgence in 1969. It is crucial to contextualize this by noting that at the time of his use, these substances were not yet prohibited in competitive sports. This highlights a period in sports history before strict anti-doping regulations were widely implemented, raising questions about the evolving ethical standards and fairness in athletic competition. Another notable event was his participation in a protest against the Finnish Amateur Athletic Association in 1970, where he and Jorma Kinnunen intentionally fouled their throws. This act of defiance, while controversial in its method, ultimately contributed to a positive outcome for athletes by leading to an improved stipend system, demonstrating his willingness to advocate for better conditions for fellow competitors.