August 22 Birthdays

1942
Harald Norpoth, Germany, middle-distance runner. Norpoth was the silver medalist in the 5,000m (13:49.6) at the 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic Games. He was not nearly as succesful in subsequent Olympic contests, finishing fourth in the 1,500m in 1968 (Mexico City) and sixth in the 5,000m in 1972 (Munich). In the European Championships, Norpoth won a silver medal in the 5,000m and a bronze in the 1,500m in 1966 (Budapest), and a bronze medal in the 5,000m in 1971 (Helsinki). Norpoth also set a world record in the 2,000m (4:57.8) in 1966. Notably, in 1973 in the final 5,000m race of his career, he ran his personal best time for the distance and defeated the celebrated American 5,000m runner, Steve Prefontaine.