June 13 Birthdays

1936

Michael Jazy, France, middle-distance runner. Jazy won the silver medal in the 1,500m at the 19600 (Rome) Olympic Games, finishing behind the great Herb Elliott. Jazy set world records in the 3,000m (7:49.2) in 1962, in the one-mile run (3:53.6) in 1965, in the 3,000m (7:49.0) in 1965, and in the 2,000m (4:56.1) in 1966. He was European Champion at 1,500m in 1962 and at 5,000m in 1966.

1982

Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, distance runner. Bekele is one of the most dominant distance runners of the early twenty-first century. He reigned as World Cross Country Champion from 2002 to 2006 and also in 2008; additionally winning the now-discontinued "short course" title from 2002 to 2006. In Olympic competition he won a silver medal in the 5,000m (13:14.59) and a gold medal in the 10,000m (27:05.10) in 2004 (Athens), and a gold medal in both the 5,000m (12:57.82) and the 10,000m (27:01.17) in 2008 (Beijing). He was the world champion in the 10,000m in 2003 (Paris), 2005 (Helsinki), 2007 (Osaka) and 2009 (Berlin), and holds world records in the 5,000m (12:37.35) and 10,000m (26:17.53).