Kolehmainen’s career peaked at the 1952 Winter Olympics, when he won a silver medal in the 50km Nordic race. He came close to winning another medal at several other events in the 1950s, but his best finish was fifth.
The war veteran had remained in good shape until the very end, spending only the last week of his life in an old people’s home in his home town, Mikkeli. His condition deteriorated after Independence Day on Friday, and he passed away late on Saturday evening.