Re: t-and-f: Zatopek's greatest record
Ron Clarke told this story about Zatopek, and referred to it as the "epitomy of fame". Clarke paid a visit to Zatopek in Prague, many years after Zatopek had retired. Zatopek took Clarke for a run in the forest he used to train in, and Clarke said Zatopek was still very fit, that he ran through the forest "like a madman". Then they went shopping for some crystal the area is famous for. Zatopek drove down the street, took a U-turn, parked in a no-parking zone, and got out of the car to go shopping. A policeman ran down the street blowing his whistle and shouting at the violators until he got close enough to recognize Zatopekat which point, he exclaimed "Emil!!!", burst into a smile, asked for an autograph, and told Zatopek and Clarke to enjoy their shopping. After a considerable time in the crystal shop, they emerged, and Zatopek's car wasn't in front of the shop. Zatopek first looked left and then right, where he spotted his car well down the street. So he signalled and whistled, and the original police officer drove the car back up the street, opened the doors for Clarke and Zatopek, shook their hands and wished them well, and off they drove. Clarke told the story to illustrate the tremendous fame and respect that Zatopek had in his country, even many years after his athletic feats. Ron Bowker At 12:25 PM 11/22/2000 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The best thing the amazing Emil Zatopek ever did was to give one of his Olympic 5,000-meter gold medals to the legendary Ron Clarke. From all I've heard and read, Zapopek was an absolutely terrific man. He will be missed. Steve Lurie
Re: t-and-f: Zatopek's greatest record
In a message dated Fri, 24 Nov 2000 2:58:55 AM Eastern Standard Time, ron bowker [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ron Clarke told this story about Zatopek, and referred to it as the "epitomy of fame".. along the same lines: in 1973 a friend of mine was in Warsaw visiting Wladyslaw Komar, who had won the Olympic shot title the year before. At a time when just about everybody in Poland was driving a Lada or a Trabant (i.e., some piece of iron curtain crap), Komar had a Fiat convertible. It's 3:00 in the morning, they're drunk as skunks, screaming down one of the main drags when Komar decides to play slalom, and is driving on and off the sidewalk, around newspaper kiosks, trees, whatever. On flashes the bubble-gum machine, so Komar pulls over. Cop flashes a light in his face and says "Komar!" Komar grunts (as only he could grunt) "Komar." Puts the car in gear and continues his slalom run. Of course, the story that he had beaten a cop to death 10 years earlier might have had as much to do with it as his fame... gh
t-and-f: Zatopek's greatest record
While Zatopek's Olympic triple will surely never be duplicated, I believe he set another record that is just as, if not more untouchable: an unbroken streak of 69 victories over 5,000 and 10,000 meters between 1949 and 1952. Few elite runners today will even come close to running 69 combined 5000 and 10,000 meters in their careers. Marty Post Senior Editor Runner's World Magazine www.runnersworld.com
Re: t-and-f: Zatopek's greatest record
The best thing the amazing Emil Zatopek ever did was to give one of his Olympic 5,000-meter gold medals to the legendary Ron Clarke. From all I've heard and read, Zapopek was an absolutely terrific man. He will be missed. Steve Lurie
