Emil Zatopek

Emil Zatopek ( Emil Zátopek ) was born September 19, 1922, Kopřivnice, Czechia. Hi was died November 22, 2000 in Prague, Czechia.
His family members include : František Zátopek, Anežka Zátopek.
Emil Zatopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life. Emil Zatopek was noted for his relentless training regime which involved a pioneering use of interval training. A hero in his native Czechoslovakia he was an influential member in the Communist Party, however, he was later expelled for supporting the democratic movement of 1968 and as a consequence was forced to work in dangerous mining jobs. He was rehabilitated in 1990 by Czech President Václav Havel. Zatopek is considered one of the greatest athletes and sporting personalities of the Twentieth Century.