Emil Zatopek

EMIL ZATOPEK d2000. Czechoslovak long distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. In 1954, Zátopek was the first runner to break the 29-minute barrier in the 10,000 metres. Three years earlier in 1951, he had broken the hour for running 20 km. He is considered to be one of the greatest runners of the 20th century and was also known for his brutally tough training methods. He was the originator of interval training and hypoventilation training. In February 2013, the editors at Runners World Magazine selected him as the Greatest Runner of All Time. He is the only person to win the 5,000 metres (24 July 1952) / 10,000 metres (20 July 1952) and Marathon (27 July 1952) in the same Olympic Games. He died in Prague aged 78 on November 22nd 2000