Emil Zátopek

19 September 1922 – 21 November 2000

Emil Zátopek was a Czechoslovak long-distance runner who won the 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, a feat never repeated. He set 18 world records and was known for his interval training methods. After signing the Two Thousand Words manifesto in 1968 he was removed from the army and from public life until the 1990s.

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Life events

Born in Kopřivnice, Czechoslovakia
19 September 1922

Zátopek was born in Kopřivnice in Moravia, one of several children of a carpenter.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Began work at the Bata shoe factory in Zlín
1937

He moved to Zlín at 16 to work for Bata, where a compulsory company race in 1941 led to his first competitive running.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Czechoslovak Army
c. 1945

He entered the army after the war and rose to the rank of colonel while continuing to train and compete.

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Won Olympic gold in the 10,000 metres at the London Games
30 July 1948

He also took silver in the 5,000 metres at the 1948 Olympics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married javelin thrower Dana Ingrová
24 October 1948

Dana Zátopková, born on the same day as Emil, won Olympic javelin gold at Helsinki in 1952.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won three gold medals at the Helsinki Olympics
20 July 1952 – 27 July 1952

Within eight days he won the 10,000 metres, the 5,000 metres and the marathon, the last in his first race at that distance.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Retired from competitive running
1957

He ended his competitive career after finishing sixth in the marathon at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Signed the Two Thousand Words manifesto and was expelled from the army
1968

After the Warsaw Pact invasion ended the Prague Spring he lost his army post and party membership and was assigned manual work, including in a uranium mine.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Rehabilitated after the Velvet Revolution
1990

President Václav Havel restored his honours and rank following the fall of the communist government.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Prague
21 November 2000

Zátopek died in a Prague military hospital after a stroke, aged 78.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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