September 23 Birthdays

1936
Rink Babka, United States, discus thrower. Richard Babka reached the high point of his discus career in August of 1960, when he set a world record of 196' 6" in the event and then won a silver medal in the men's discus throw at the 1960 (Rome) Olympic Games, placing behind the great Al Oerter.

1948
Vera Nikolić, Yugoslavia, middle-distance runner. In 1968 Nikolić set a world record in the women's 800m of 2:00.5. She broke her own record in 1971, running 2:00.0. The record was broken later that year by West Germany's Hildegard Falck, who went on to win gold in the 800m at the 1972 (Munich) Olympic Games, a race in which Nikolić finished fourth in 1:59.6.

1962
Jack Pierce, United States, hurdler. Pierce won a silver medal at the 1991 (Tokyo) World Championships in the 110m hurdles (13.06), a bronze medal at the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games in the 110m hurdles (13.26), and a bronze medal at the 1993 (Stuttgart) World Championships in the 100m hurdles (13.06).

September 19 Birthdays

1922
Emil Zátopek, Czech long-distance runner. It would be difficult to overstate the accomplishments of Emil Zátopek. In his debut at the 1948 (London) Olympic games, he won a gold medal in the 10,000m run and a silver medal in the 5,000m run. Returning to the Olympics in 1952 (Helsinki), he won gold medals in the 5,000m, the 10,000m, and the marathon (it was his first race at the marathon distance). Zátopek did not medal in the 1956 (Melbourne) Olympics, but finished a respectable sixth in the marathon. Outside of Olympic competition, Zátopek set a total of seventeen world records at distances ranging from 5,000m to 30,000m, and he was the first runner to break 29:00 for 10,000m.

1936
Al Oerter, United States, discus thrower. Four Olympic Games. Four Olympic gold medals. Four Olympic records. Al Oerter passed away on 1 October 2007.