Olympic Games/ summer, 1924/ Paris/ Nurmi/ - Lot 80

Olympic Games/ summer, 1924/ Paris/ Nurmi/ Edouard Fraisse (1880-1945) Paavo Nurmi Bronze 28.5 x 20 cm Chips on the terrace, tiny crack on the right ankle. Nurmi, the runner, the five-time Paris Olympic champion. The Finnish champion's name appears on this spectacular work by Edouard Fraisse (1880-1945), but it goes far beyond that. The artist, who also took part in the art competitions at the Games, captured the mystique of the "Flying Finn...". !!!! Paavo's dates are given for documentary purposes (1897-1973), but he is eternal, because of the five titles he won in Colombes, on the cendrée, or in cross-country (bib 327), because of the four other gold medals from 1920 or 28, as well as the three silver and bronze medals, but also because his career was cut short in 1932, due to professionalism. Posterity gave back to the champion what he had given to the legend, dedicating posters, statues and trophies to him, not least this one. The black stone base (18.5x11.5x10) adds to the aerial allure of the phenomenon. He was also the last torchbearer at the 1952 Helsinki Games, the one who lit the cauldron on fire...