Martti Vainio
Early career 1972–77
### Early career 1972–77

Martti Vainio started systematic training at the age of 20 in the autumn of 1971 with his coach Aulis Potinkara. He received his first [national championships](/wiki/Finnish_Championships_in_Athletics "Finnish Championships in Athletics") medal in 1974 when he finished third in 5000 metres after [Seppo Tuominen](/wiki/Seppo_Tuominen "Seppo Tuominen") and [Rune Holmén](/wiki/Rune_Holm%C3%A9n "Rune Holmén"). In the same year he ran his first 10,000 m race with the result 29:09\.6\. He broke the 29\-minutes barrier for the first time in 1976\. The same year he was second at the [Finnish Championships in Athletics](/wiki/Finnish_Championships_in_Athletics "Finnish Championships in Athletics") in 10,000 metres after [Pekka Päivärinta](/wiki/Pekka_P%C3%A4iv%C3%A4rinta "Pekka Päivärinta") and was selected to his first [Olympics](/wiki/1976_Summer_Olympics "1976 Summer Olympics") in [Montreal](/wiki/Montreal "Montreal"), Quebec, Canada. However, he did not qualify for the [10,000 metres](/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1976_Summer_Olympics_-_Men%27s_10000_metres "Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's 10000 metres") final, finishing as the second fastest runner to be eliminated from the final. He won his first [Finnish Championship](/wiki/Finnish_Championships_in_Athletics "Finnish Championships in Athletics") in 1977 when he beat [Kaarlo Maaninka](/wiki/Kaarlo_Maaninka "Kaarlo Maaninka") by 0\.9 seconds in 10,000 metres.


Who was second to Martti Vainio at the Finnish Championships in Athletics in 10,000 metres in 1976?