Harry Larva

Harri Edvin Larva (September 9, 1906 – November 11, 1980), born Harry Edvin Lagerström, was a Finnish athlete, winner of 1500 m at the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Born in Turku, Harry Larva was forced to change his last name from Lagerström to Larva in 1928 by a young president of Finnish Athletics Union and known nationalist Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, because his name didn't sound as Finnish.

Larva, a Finnish champion in 800 m from 1928 to 1930 and in 1934, won only one bronze (1927) in his favourite distance 1500 m at Finnish Championships. Harry Larva's best year was in 1928, when he ran all his best performances in distances from 400 m to a mile.

At the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, in a 1500 m. final, Larva held a great battle against Frenchman Jules Ladoumègue, and surprisingly won in a time of 3:53.2. Larva competed also at the 1932 Summer Olympics and finished 10th in a 1500 m.