Within nine magical days in Helsinki, Czechslovakian army officer Emil Zatopek established himself, alongside Paavo Nurmi, as the greatest long-distance runner of all times. Zatopek started off by effortlessly winning (by a margin of 15 seconds), repeating his 10,000 meter victory from 1948. He went on to win the 5,000 meter before deciding to run the first marathon of his life. Upon reaching the 2/3 mark Zatopek put on his unbeatable pace, and camein first by two and a half minutes.
So impressed by Zatopek was the Jamaican 4x400 meter relay team, who had just won a gold medal of their own, that they carried Zatopek around the track on their shoulders.
Above all, Zatopek was a true sportsman. Finishing sixth in the 1956 Olympic marathon, Zatopek saluted his good friend Alain Mimoun O'kacha, runner up in the 1952 5,000 and 10,000 meters who had finally won gold. "For me, that is more than a medal", said O'kacha. Years later Zatopek presented his 10,000 meter Olympic gold medal to Australian great Ron Clark, who had never won one of his own.
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