Nurmi won gold medals and set Olympic records in both the 1500 and 5000 metre races, with Ritola very close on his heels in the 5000 for silver.

Nurmi did not defend his 1920 title in the 10000 metres, but Ritola earned the victory and the world record in that race.

Stenroos won the marathon, while Myyrä took the javelin championship and Lehtonen finished first in the pentathlon.

They were second place behind the United States in both the total and gold medal counts in athletics.

Wilén earned an odd distinction: he set an Olympic record in a race which he did not win.

The race winner, however, had knocked over a hurdle and his time was therefore ineligible to be considered a record.

Kärkkäinen was the only Finnish diver to advance to a final, finishing ninth in the platform event.