He surprisingly won gold over Kip Keino in 3:36.3 a time which topped the world rankings that year.

Vasala had competed at the 1968 Olympics, where he was eliminated .in his first-round heat of the 1,500 m. He was a 3:41.8 runner that season.

After the games, he defeated Dave Wottle, the Olympic 800 champion and world record holder in 1:44.6.

His last international competition came at the 1974 European Championships, where he placed sixth in the 1,500 m. He won six Finnish titles – the 800 m in 1970-72 and the 1,500 m in 1969-71.

His nephew, Samuli Vasala, also an athlete, won the 2003 Nordic Cross Country Championships.