Paavo Ilmari Yrjölä (18 June 1902 in Hämeenkyrö – 11 February 1980 in Vilppula), also known as the Bear of Hämeenkyrö (Hämeenkyrön karhu), was a Finnish track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1928 Summer Olympics.

[1] He also competed in shot put and high jump at the same Games, and in decathlon in 1924 and 1932, but less successfully.

[3] Finland took the top two spots in the decathlon that year with Yrjölä taking the gold (with a world record) and Akilles Järvinen the silver.

[3] Yrjölä was the first decathlete to score higher than Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Summer Olympics.

Thorpe's performance wasn't officially recognized as a record due to his semi-professional status.