The triumph was celebrated across Estonia with Palusalu and other Estonian athletes touring the country by rail giving speeches.

[3] After the Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940, Palusalu was sent to hard labour in Kotlas, Russia in 1941.

He was then sentenced to death together with his fellow fugitives but was given the chance to go to the front line to fight against Finland in the Continuation War.

Palusalu was soon recognized by a person in the Finnish army, who had sports background (Heikki Savolainen).

After the return of the Soviet army in 1945 he was arrested again, but was later allowed to work as a trainer and a referee, he also participated in some competitions in Estonia.