Emil Zatopek - Long Distance Runner, Facts and Life
Emil Zatopek's Personal Details
Emil Zatopek was an accomplished, world record breaking long distance runner
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 19, 1922 |
| Died on | November 22, 2000 |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Famous | Sportspersons, Marathon Runners, Athletes, Long Distance Runner |
| Nick names | Czech Locomotive |
| Spouses | Dana Zátopková |
| Birth Place | Koprivnice |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Koprivnice |
| Famous as | Long Distance Runner |
| Died at Age | 78 |
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Emil Zatopek's photo
Who is Emil Zatopek?
One of the greatest long-distance runners of the 20th century, Emil Zatopek shot to great fame with his three gold medal victories at the Summer Olympics in Helsinki in 1952. Proclaimed as the ‘Greatest Runner of All Time’ by the Runner's World Magazine, Zatopek is known for his hard working nature and tough and challenging training methods. He is known to have pushed himself through grueling and strenuous training routines in order to get the best out of himself. This legendary runner was nicknamed ‘Czech Locomotive’ and ‘Bouncing Czech’ for his extraordinary abilities to perform consistently on the track. He set a total of eighteen world records in various long distance running competitions, including 500 meter and 30000 meter races. He has won a total of four Olympic gold medals and a silver medal. He was the first athlete to run the 10 km race in a time span of under 29 minutes and ran 20 km race within an hour. He is also known for his unique and distinctive running style, facial expressions on the track and his posture. To learn more interesting facts about his childhood, personal life and professional achievements, scroll down and continue to read this biography.
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Childhood & Early Life
Emil Zatopek was born in Koprivnice, Czechoslovakia in a modest family.
He started working at Bata, a shoe factory, in 1937. The factory sports coach persuaded him to take part in a race, in which he came second.
In 1944, he participated in the 2000, 3000 and 5000 meter races and he broke the Czechoslovak records in each of them.
He later joined the Czechoslovak Army at the end of the World War II and in 1947 he graduated from the Military Academy in Hranice.
In 1946, he was chosen to run for the Czechoslovak national team in the European Championships. He completed the 5000m race in the fifth position and thus broke his own Czechoslovak record.
Career
In 1948, he first participated in the 10 km track race that was held in Budapest. Here, he was victorious and ended up setting a national record.
Later in 1948, he made his debut in an international competition, the 1948 Summer Olympics, which was held in London. He was the winner of the 10000 metre race and stood in the second position in the 50000 metre race.
In 1949, he broke the ‘Men's 10,000 metres world record’, twice at Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, on June 11 and October 22. He performed well during the next four seasons and improved his record.
In 1950, he was the winner of the 5000 metre race and the 10000 metre race at the European Championships. In August, he set ‘Men's 10,000 metres world record’ that was held in Turku, Finland.
In 1951, he participated in the ‘one hour run’, an international track event recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. He broke the record at the track races held in Prague and Star� Boleslav.
In the 1952 Summer Olympics that was held in Helsinki, he was victorious in the 5000 metre run and the 10000 metre run that earned him 2 gold medals. He won his third gold medal at the event, after he completed the marathon.
On November 1, 1953, he broke the ‘Men's 10,000 metres world record’ in Stara Boleslav, Czechoslovakia.
In 1954, he won the 10000 metre race and became the first athlete to break the 29 minute barrier, thus winning the gold medal at the European Athletics Championships. He also won a bronze medal in the 5000 metre race.
In 1956, after he recovered from a groin injury, he participated in the Melbourne Olympics, where he finished the marathon in the sixth position. The following year he retired from running.
After he retired from running, he remained in the Army and in the year 1964, he rose to the position of a Colonel. He later worked in the Ministry of Defence.
Awards & Achievements
In 1998, he was honoured with the title of ‘White Lion’, one of Czech’s highest awards. The title was conferred to him by the then Czech President Vaclav Havel.
In 2000, he was posthumously awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal It’s a special decoration conferred by the International Olympic Committee.
In 2012, he was named one among twelve athletes who would be inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame.
Personal Life & Legacy
After he returned from the London Olympics in 1948, he married Dana Zatopkova, who was a javelin thrower.
He died at the age of 78, in Prague, after he had been ill for a long time with pneumonia. His funeral was held at the Prague National Theatre.
Trivia
This record breaking long distance runner is known for his brutal training methods and it is believed that he repeatedly trained with his wife on his back.
This accomplished, world record breaking long distance runner had a jovial and friendly personality. He once playfully tried to take credit, at a press conference for his wife’s victory at the Olympics.
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Emil Zatopek's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 000 meters | |
| 1948 | Olympic Champions Gold for 10 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1948 | Olympic Champions Silver for 5 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1950 | European Champions in Men's 5000 m | |
| 1950 | European Champions in Men's 10 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1954 | European Champions in Men's 10 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1950 | European Athletics Championships Gold for 5 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1950 | European Athletics Championships Gold for 10 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1954 | European Athletics Championships Gold for 10 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 1954 | European Athletics Championships Bronze for 5 | |
| 0 | 000 m | |
| 0 | - IAAF Hall of Fame | |
| 0 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 0 | 2000 - Pierre de Coubertin medal | |
| 0 | 1952 - Olympic Champions Gold for Men's 5000 m | |
| 0 | 1952 - Olympic Champions Gold for Men's 10 | |
Emil Zatopek biography timelines
- // 19th Sep 1922Emil Zatopek was born in Koprivnice, Czechoslovakia in a modest family.
- // 1937He started working at Bata, a shoe factory, in 1937. The factory sports coach persuaded him to take part in a race, in which he came second.
- // 1944In 1944, he participated in the 2000, 3000 and 5000 meter races and he broke the Czechoslovak records in each of them.
- // 1946In 1946, he was chosen to run for the Czechoslovak national team in the European Championships. He completed the 5000m race in the fifth position and thus broke his own Czechoslovak record.
- // 1948In 1948, he first participated in the 10 km track race that was held in Budapest. Here, he was victorious and ended up setting a national record.
- // 1948Later in 1948, he made his debut in an international competition, the 1948 Summer Olympics, which was held in London. He was the winner of the 10000 metre race and stood in the second position in the 50000 metre race.
- // 1948After he returned from the London Olympics in 1948, he married Dana Zatopkova, who was a javelin thrower.
- // 1949In 1949, he broke the ‘Men's 10,000 metres world record’, twice at Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, on June 11 and October 22. He performed well during the next four seasons and improved his record.
- // 1950In 1950, he was the winner of the 5000 metre race and the 10000 metre race at the European Championships. In August, he set ‘Men's 10,000 metres world record’ that was held in Turku, Finland.
- // 1951In 1951, he participated in the ‘one hour run’, an international track event recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. He broke the record at the track races held in Prague and Star� Boleslav.
- // 1952In the 1952 Summer Olympics that was held in Helsinki, he was victorious in the 5000 metre run and the 10000 metre run that earned him 2 gold medals. He won his third gold medal at the event, after he completed the marathon.
- // 1953On November 1, 1953, he broke the ‘Men's 10,000 metres world record’ in Stara Boleslav, Czechoslovakia.
- // 1954In 1954, he won the 10000 metre race and became the first athlete to break the 29 minute barrier, thus winning the gold medal at the European Athletics Championships. He also won a bronze medal in the 5000 metre race.
- // 1956In 1956, after he recovered from a groin injury, he participated in the Melbourne Olympics, where he finished the marathon in the sixth position. The following year he retired from running.
- // 1998In 1998, he was honoured with the title of ‘White Lion’, one of Czech’s highest awards. The title was conferred to him by the then Czech President Vaclav Havel.
- // 22nd Nov 2000He died at the age of 78, in Prague, after he had been ill for a long time with pneumonia. His funeral was held at the Prague National Theatre.
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Emil Zatopek's FAQ
What is Emil Zatopek birthday?
Emil Zatopek was born at 1922-09-19
When was Emil Zatopek died?
Emil Zatopek was died at 2000-11-22
Where was Emil Zatopek died?
Emil Zatopek was died in Prague
Which age was Emil Zatopek died?
Emil Zatopek was died at age 78
Where is Emil Zatopek's birth place?
Emil Zatopek was born in Koprivnice
What is Emil Zatopek nationalities?
Emil Zatopek's nationalities is Czech
What is Emil Zatopek nick names?
Emil Zatopek's nickNames is Czech Locomotive
Who is Emil Zatopek spouses?
Emil Zatopek's spouses is Dana Zátopková
What is Emil Zatopek's sun sign?
Emil Zatopek is Virgo
How famous is Emil Zatopek?
Emil Zatopek is famouse as Long Distance Runner