Matti Järvinen

{{short description|Finnish javelin thrower}}

{{For|the ice hockey players|Matti Järvinen (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

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| image = Matti_Järvinen.jpg

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| caption = Järvinen at the 1932 Olympics

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| fullname = Matti Henrikki Järvinen

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| birth_date = 18 February 1909

| birth_place = Tampere, Finland

| death_date = 22 July 1985 (aged 76)

| death_place = Helsinki, Finland

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| sport = Javelin throw

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| club = Kerkkoon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat
Helsingin Kisa-Veikot

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{{MedalCountry| {{FIN}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}

{{MedalGold| 1932 Los Angeles | Javelin throw}}

{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}

{{MedalGold|1934 Turin|Javelin throw}}

{{MedalGold|1938 Paris|Javelin throw}}

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Matti Henrikki Järvinen (18 February 1909 – 22 July 1985) was a Finnish javelin thrower. He won the Olympic gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics ahead of two other Finns, Matti Sippala and Eino Penttilä, with a throw of 72.71 metres.{{cite web | first=Mikko | last=Torro | title=SUL 100 vuotta – Matti Järvinen | work=Elite Games | url=http://www.eliittikisat.fi/uutiset/jarjestotoiminta/sul-100-vuotta-matti-jarvinen | language=Finnish | accessdate=9 August 2012 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130213113845/http://www.eliittikisat.fi/uutiset/jarjestotoiminta/sul-100-vuotta-matti-jarvinen | archivedate=13 February 2013 | df=dmy-all }} Four of his other five throws would also have been enough to take gold. The three Finns did not take off their tracksuit trousers during the event.{{Cite book | first=Antero | last=Raevuori | title= Järviset – Legendaarinen suomalainen urheilijaperhe | page = 153 | year = 2009 | publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Revontuli | language=Finnish | isbn=978-952-5767-18-6}}

Besides his Olympic gold, Järvinen is remembered for his numerous world records. From 1930 to 1936, he broke the javelin throw world record a record ten times in a row. He also became the European champion in 1934, setting a new world record with 76.66 m, and defended his title successfully in 1938. In the 1936 Summer Olympics, Järvinen finished fifth. Järvinen continued throwing after World War II, recording a 71.70-metre throw in 1945.

Järvinen was the son of Verner Järvinen, an Olympic bronze medalist in discus throw. His brother Akilles Järvinen was a decathlon world record holder and two-time Olympic silver medalist. His other brother Kalle was a shot putter and also an Olympian.{{cite Sports-Reference}}

The exact distance of his gold-winning throw, 72.71 metres, was used as the height of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in commemoration of his achievement.