Athletics at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Games:

Oddly the 1928 1,500 metres saw many top runners opt for other distances, either moving down to the 800 or up the 5,000. The three remaining favorites were France’s Jules Ladoumègue, Finland’s Eino Purje, and his countryman, Harri Larva. The pace in the final was somewhat slow, with Purje leading at 800 metres in 2:04, with Larva on his shoulder. On the last lap, Ladoumègue took the lead on the backstretch, and Purje fell behind. On the final straight, Larva pulled up to Ladoumègue’s shoulder and pulled ahead only 20 metres from the tape. Purje did hang on to get the bronze medal. In 1930 Ladoumègue would become the first man to better 3:50 for the 1,500 and in 1931 he was the first runner under 4:10 for the mile.