Olympic Games gold medal athlete. Born in Koprivnice, Czechoslovakia, he was one of the most noted distance runners of all time. Known as "The Locomotive", from 1948 until 1954, he won a remarkable 38 consecutive 10,000-meter races, including 11 in 1949 alone. He set 18 world records over various distances, including every record from 5 kilometers to 30 kilometers, and won four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal. At the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, he won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the marathon, plus set new Olympic records in all three events, a feat which has never been duplicated. In 1998 he was awarded the Order of the White Lion, a national honor presented to him by Czech President Vaclav Havel. His wife Dana was also an Olympic athlete, winning the gold medal in the javelin in 1952. Emil Zatopek died of a stroke at age 78 in 2000. He is recognized as the Czech Republic's greatest athlete.
Olympic Games gold medal athlete. Born in Koprivnice, Czechoslovakia, he was one of the most noted distance runners of all time. Known as "The Locomotive", from 1948 until 1954, he won a remarkable 38 consecutive 10,000-meter races, including 11 in 1949 alone. He set 18 world records over various distances, including every record from 5 kilometers to 30 kilometers, and won four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal. At the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, he won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the marathon, plus set new Olympic records in all three events, a feat which has never been duplicated. In 1998 he was awarded the Order of the White Lion, a national honor presented to him by Czech President Vaclav Havel. His wife Dana was also an Olympic athlete, winning the gold medal in the javelin in 1952. Emil Zatopek died of a stroke at age 78 in 2000. He is recognized as the Czech Republic's greatest athlete.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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