October 2 Birthdays

1902
Toivo Loukola, Finland, distance runner. In 1928 Toivo Aarne Loukola ran 9:25.2 in the 3,000m steeplechase, which would have been a world record, except world records in the steeple weren't recognized prior to the 1950s. One month later, at the 1928 (Amsterdam) Olympic Games, after finishing seventh in the 10,000m, Loukola won the men's 3,000m steeplechase, defeating the immortal Paavo Nurmi by almost ten seconds. Loukola's time was an unofficial world record 9:21.8. Loukola passed away on 10 January 1984.

1967
Frankie Fredericks, Namibia, sprinter. Fredericks was Namibia's first world champion and first Olympic medalist. He won silver medals in the 100m and the 200m at the Olympic Games in both 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta). At the World Championships he has won a silver medal in the 200m in 1991 (Tokyo), a gold medal in the 200m in 1993 (Stuttgart), a silver medal in the 200m in 1995 (Gothenburg), and a silver medal in the 200m in 1997 (Athens).

1975
Hrysopiyi Devetzi, Greece, triple jumper. "Pigi" Devetzi won a silver medal at the 2004 (Athens) Olympic Games in the women's triple jump with a mark of 15.25m. In the preliminary rounds she jumped 15.32m, which would have won the event. She also won a bronze medal in the triple jump at the 2007 (Osaka) World Championships and a bronze medal in the same event at the 2008 (Beijing) Olympic Games.