Emil Zátopek

Emil Zátopek (September 19th 1922 - November 22nd 2000) is a runner basic Czechoslovakian.

Biography

Born in a modest family of which he is the sixth child, he must work as of the 16 years age in a factory of shoe with Zlín. It is by this work that it will make its beginnings in athletics. Its company obliges it one day to take part in a race of which it is the sponsor. It will finish only second but it will be for him the beginning of its sporting career.

Returned in the army in 1945 to fill its military service there, it continues in this career. It finds there conditions supporting its drive. It is also by this career that it became acquainted with his future wife, Dana Zátopková, which was the girl of its colonel at the time. This future couple had a curiosity: they had been born exactly the same day.

For its first great international participation, it finishes 5th Championnats of Europe of athletics 1946 with Oslo. For its first participation in the Olympic Games, at the time of the edition of London, in 1948, it gains the 10.000 meters, and finishes second behind the Belgian Gaston Reiff in the 5.000 meters. These plays, it failed not to dispute them: indeed, of “official” took as pretexts its nomination with the higher rank, nomination obtained in reward of its preceding good performances, to try to describe it as professional what would have automatically excluded it from the Plays.

It is the beginning of a domination on the bottom: as of the following year, it establishes by twice the world records of the 10.000 meters, outdistances on which there will remain unconquered on the distance of the 10.000 meters between 1948 and 1954, gaining 38 races. It becomes also the first to cross the bar of the 20 km traversed in the hour with 20,052 km.

The culminating point of the career of the “Czech engine” arises with the Olympic Games of Helsinki. This nickname comes to him from a French journalist, as his wife Dana Zátopková tells it: “It drew Emil like an engine trailing its competitors like coaches”.

This edition of the Olympic Games failed to be private presence of Zatopek. The Czech authorities refuse with a runner of 1.500 meters, Stanislav Jungwirth to go to Helsinki under the pretext which the father of this one is adverse with the Communist party. Zatopek issues whereas it does not take part in the plays if its compatriot is not authorized to also take part. Initially, the authorities refuse to yield. Then after a few days, the party yields and the two athletes go finally to Helsinki.

The first test which it argument is the 10.000 meters. Very early, its adversaries disappear, incompetent to follow the rate/rhythm of Czech. The last to follow it is the French Alain Mimoun who must yield to the 8.000 meters. Zátopek finishes first with 120 meters in advance on the French.

The second test of its program is the 5.000 meters. Among his competitors at the beginning the champion in title appears, the Belgian Gaston Reiff, the English Chris Chataway, the German Herbert Schade and the Mimoun French. With 300 meters, Zatopek seems in difficulty after the departure of Chataway followed by Mimoun. Then Zátopek returns, exceeds them in the last turn and is essential, Mimoun finishing in the 2nd place.

It is then victim of the Soviet repression which erases it army and forces it to make its self-criticism. It was excluded from the army, of the Communist party and was condemned to be able to exert only manual trades (of which street sweeper in the streets of Prague). It was also sent in the uranium mines of Jáchymov where it remained until 1974.

In 1988, the Czech president Vaclav Havel decreed to him the White Lion, a national honor.

The Czech quadruple Olympic champion died out at the 78 years age on November 22nd, 2000. He had suffered before from pneumonia and a fracture of the basin.

He was rewarded on a purely posthumous basis for the Medal Pierre de Coubertin by the president for CIO Juan Antonio Samaranch. This medal is allotted by the CIO to the sportsmen who showed their sportivity at the time of Olympic test.

the draftsman Coucho published in 2006 a cartoon Zatopek, the years Mimoun

Drive

Zatopek is also known to be a precursor as regards drive. It was essential unimaginable amounts what contributed to its legend. Its method rested on the drive by intervals. It was essential thus meetings of 20 X.400 meters, then 40 X 400m carried out into 1 ' 10" - 1 ' 15". These difficulties were also accentuated by its use of the environment. He did not hesitate to face the specific hard winter conditions to his country to go to run in snow.

Prize list

Olympic Games of summer

Olympic Games of 1956 with Melbourne, Australia

6th of the marathon

Olympic Games of 1952 with Helsinki, Finland

Gold medal of the 5.000 meters
Gold medal of the 10.000 meters
Gold medal of the marathon

Plays oOympic of 1948 with London, the United Kingdom

Gold medal of the 10.000 meters
Medal of money of the 5.000 meters

Championships of Europe of athletics

Championships of Europe of athletics 1954 with Bern, Switzerland

Gold medal of the 10.000 meters
Bronze medal of the 5.000 meters

Championships of Europe of athletics 1950 with Brussels, Belgium

Gold medal of the 5.000 meters
Gold medal of the 10.000 meters

Championships of Europe of athletics 1946 with Oslo, Norway

5th of the 5.000 meters.

World records

18 world records of which:

world records of the 10.000 in 29 ' 28" 2 with Ostrava, on June 11th, 1949
world records of the 10.000 in 29 ' 21" 2 with Ostrava, on October 22nd, 1949
world records of the 10.000 in 29 ' 02" 6 with Turku, Finland on August 4th, 1950
world records of the 10.000 in 29 ' 01" 6 with Stará Boleslav, on November 1st, 1953
world records of the 10.000 in 28 ' 54" 2 with Brussels, Belgium on June 1st, 1954
world records of the 5.000 in 13 ' 57" 2 with Paris, France on May 30th, 1954
world records of the 20 km in 59 ' 51" with Stará Boleslav, on September 29th, 1951
world records of the hour with 20,052 km with Stará Boleslav, on September 29th, 1951

Declarations

"We different are, in gasoline, from other men. Yew you want to win something, run the 100 meters. Yew you want to experiment another life, run has marathon."
" I was not talented enough to run and spalling hammer At the same time."
" It' S At the borders off bread and suffering that the men are separated from the boys."

References

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