December 24 Birthdays

1897
Frans Wilhelm Pörhölä, Finland, throws. If it was heavy, Ville Pörhölä threw it. He won the gold medal in the men's shot put (14.81m) 1920 (Antwerp) Olympic Games, where he also competed in the discus and the weight throw. After a hiatus from athletics, he returned to Olympic competition in 1932 (Los Angeles) in the men's hammer throw, where he won a silver medal with a toss of 52.27 behind Ireland's Pat O'Callaghan (53.92m). Pörhölä passed away on 28 November 1964.

1930
John Joseph Kelley, United States, long distance. After World War II, the Boston Marathon became a truly international race, so much so that after 1945 no American won the race until 1957 when John J. Kelley blazed to a course record win of 2:20:05 at the 62nd running of the race. Kelley went on to win a gold medal in the 1959 (Chicago) Pan American Games marathon. He also competed in the Olympics as part of the U.S. marathon team in 1956 (Melbourne), 1960 (Rome), and 1964 (Tokyo).

1940
William Frederick Crothers, Canada, middle distance. Bill Crothers won the silver medal in the men's 800m run at the 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic Games, running 1:45.6 behind the great Peter Snell, who won with an Olympic record time of 1:45.1. Crothers was the world record holder in the indoor 800m, and at one time held every Canadian record from 400m to 1500m.

1984
Wallace Spearmon, United States, sprints. Spearmon was a 200m specialist. In the men's 200m at the World Championships, Spearmon won a silver medal in 2005 (Helsinki), a bronze medal in 2007 (Osaka), and a bronze medal in 2009 (Berlin). He was less successful in Olympic competition, disqualified for running out of his lane in the 200m final in 2008 (Beijing).