1950
Waldemar Cierpinski, East Germany, long-distance runner. Cierpinski moved up from the 3,000m steeplechase to the marathon in 1974, and in the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic marathon he took the gold medal, running a career-best and Olympic record of 2:09:55. Four years later Cierpinski repeated, winning the 1980 (Moscow) Olympic marathon in a time of 2:11:03. Cierpinski was also a bronze medalist at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships marathon (2:10:37).
Showing posts with label 1950. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1950. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
December 3 Birthdays
1950
Alberto Juantorena. In 1976, this Cuban runner won Olympic gold medals in both the 400m dash and 800m run, the only athlete in Olympic history to win both of these events, setting a world record of 1:43.50 in the 800.
Alberto Juantorena. In 1976, this Cuban runner won Olympic gold medals in both the 400m dash and 800m run, the only athlete in Olympic history to win both of these events, setting a world record of 1:43.50 in the 800.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
October 13 Birthdays
1950
Annegret Richter, West Germany, sprinter. Annegret Richter (née Irrgang) won the gold medal in the women's 100m and the silver medal in the women's 200m at the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic Games.
1955
Detlef Michel, East Germany, javelin thrower. Throwing 89.48m, Michel won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships.
1967
Javier Sotomayor, Cuba, high jumper. In 1984 Sotomayor set a world junior record in the men's high jump of 2.43; by 1988 he had also claimed the men's high jump record by leaping 2.43 meters. However, Cuba boycotted the Olympic Games in both 1984 and 1988, denying Sotomayor the opportunity to compete on an Olympic stage. Fortunately for Sotomayor he was still competing when the Cold War ended, also bringing an end to the golden age of Olympic boycotts. Free to compete, Sotomayor won the gold medal in the high jump at the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games and a silver medal in the event at the 2000 (Sydney) Olympics. Sotomayor also won gold medals in the high jump at the 1993 (Stuttgart) and 1997 (Athens) World Championships and silver medals at the 1991 (Tokyo) and 1995 (Gothenburg) World Championships. During his career he also raised the high jump world record first to 2.44m and then to 2.45m.
1968
Irina Khudoroshkina, Russia, shot putter. Khudoroshkina was the bronze medalist in the women's shot put at the 1996 (Atlanta) Olympic Games. She went on to serve a two-year suspension for doping from 2004 to 2006.
Annegret Richter, West Germany, sprinter. Annegret Richter (née Irrgang) won the gold medal in the women's 100m and the silver medal in the women's 200m at the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic Games.
1955
Detlef Michel, East Germany, javelin thrower. Throwing 89.48m, Michel won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships.
1967
Javier Sotomayor, Cuba, high jumper. In 1984 Sotomayor set a world junior record in the men's high jump of 2.43; by 1988 he had also claimed the men's high jump record by leaping 2.43 meters. However, Cuba boycotted the Olympic Games in both 1984 and 1988, denying Sotomayor the opportunity to compete on an Olympic stage. Fortunately for Sotomayor he was still competing when the Cold War ended, also bringing an end to the golden age of Olympic boycotts. Free to compete, Sotomayor won the gold medal in the high jump at the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games and a silver medal in the event at the 2000 (Sydney) Olympics. Sotomayor also won gold medals in the high jump at the 1993 (Stuttgart) and 1997 (Athens) World Championships and silver medals at the 1991 (Tokyo) and 1995 (Gothenburg) World Championships. During his career he also raised the high jump world record first to 2.44m and then to 2.45m.
1968
Irina Khudoroshkina, Russia, shot putter. Khudoroshkina was the bronze medalist in the women's shot put at the 1996 (Atlanta) Olympic Games. She went on to serve a two-year suspension for doping from 2004 to 2006.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September 16 Birthdays
1940
Jutta Heine, Germany, sprinter. Competing for the German Unified Team, six-foot-tall Heine won the silver medal in the women's 200m at the 1960 (Rome) Olympic Games, running 24.4. She also ran the 200m for Germany in the 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic Games, but failed to make the final.
1947
Ilona Gusenbauer, Austria, high jump. In 1971 Ilona Gusenbauer set the world record in the women's high jump, clearing 1.92m. Exactly one year later the record was equaled at the 1972 (Munich) Olympic Games by Ulrike Meyfarth, who won the gold medal. Gusenbauer won the bronze that day, jumping 1.85m.
1950
Raisa Katyukova-Smekhnova, Soviet Union, long-distance runner. Raisa Katyukova-Smekhnova won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships, running 2:31:13.
1957
Keith Connor, Great Britain, triple jumper. Connor had already won the triple jump gold medal at the 1978 (Edmonton) Commonwealth Games when he enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso. In 1980 he competed for Britain at the (Moscow) Olympic Games, placing fourth. After that he transferred to Southern Methodist University, where he won three straight NCAA triple jump titles (1981, 1982, 1983). During his tenure at SMU he also won a second gold medal in the triple jump at the 1982 (Brisbane) Commonwealth Games. He ended his competitive career by winning the bronze medal in the triple jump at the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games.
1966
Kevin Young, United States, hurdler. Having already represented the United States in the 400m hurdles at the 1986 Goodwill Games, Young won the NCAA title in the 400m hurdles in 1987 and 1988. At the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games he won the gold medal in the 400m hurdles with a world-record time of 46.78. He was also the gold medalist in the 400m hurdles at the 1993 (Stuttgart) World Championships.
1967
Mike Smith, Canada, decathlon. Michael C. Smith was the silver medalist in the decathlon at the 1991 (Tokyo)World Championships. He was also the Commonwealth Games champion in the decathlon in 1990 (Auckland) and 1994 (Victoria) and represented Canada in the event at the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games.
1971
Karsten Kobs, Germany, hammer thrower. Kobs was the gold medalist in the hammer throw at the 1999 (Seville) World Championships, where he threw 80.24m.
1980
Jadel Gregório, Brazil, triple jumper. Jadel Abdul Ghani Gregório was the world leader in the triple jump in 2007, the year that he won the silver medal in the (Osaka) World Championships triple jump. He also represented Brazil in the 2008 (Beijing) Olympic Games, where he placed sixth with a mark of 17.20m.
1984
Maryam Yusuf Jamal, Bahrain, middle-distance runner. Born in Ethiopia, competing for Bahrain, and training in Switzerland, Maryam Yusuf Jamal won the women's 1,500m at the 2007 (Tokyo) and 2009 (Berlin) World Championships.
Jutta Heine, Germany, sprinter. Competing for the German Unified Team, six-foot-tall Heine won the silver medal in the women's 200m at the 1960 (Rome) Olympic Games, running 24.4. She also ran the 200m for Germany in the 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic Games, but failed to make the final.
1947
Ilona Gusenbauer, Austria, high jump. In 1971 Ilona Gusenbauer set the world record in the women's high jump, clearing 1.92m. Exactly one year later the record was equaled at the 1972 (Munich) Olympic Games by Ulrike Meyfarth, who won the gold medal. Gusenbauer won the bronze that day, jumping 1.85m.
1950
Raisa Katyukova-Smekhnova, Soviet Union, long-distance runner. Raisa Katyukova-Smekhnova won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships, running 2:31:13.
1957
Keith Connor, Great Britain, triple jumper. Connor had already won the triple jump gold medal at the 1978 (Edmonton) Commonwealth Games when he enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso. In 1980 he competed for Britain at the (Moscow) Olympic Games, placing fourth. After that he transferred to Southern Methodist University, where he won three straight NCAA triple jump titles (1981, 1982, 1983). During his tenure at SMU he also won a second gold medal in the triple jump at the 1982 (Brisbane) Commonwealth Games. He ended his competitive career by winning the bronze medal in the triple jump at the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games.
1966
Kevin Young, United States, hurdler. Having already represented the United States in the 400m hurdles at the 1986 Goodwill Games, Young won the NCAA title in the 400m hurdles in 1987 and 1988. At the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games he won the gold medal in the 400m hurdles with a world-record time of 46.78. He was also the gold medalist in the 400m hurdles at the 1993 (Stuttgart) World Championships.
1967
Mike Smith, Canada, decathlon. Michael C. Smith was the silver medalist in the decathlon at the 1991 (Tokyo)World Championships. He was also the Commonwealth Games champion in the decathlon in 1990 (Auckland) and 1994 (Victoria) and represented Canada in the event at the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games.
1971
Karsten Kobs, Germany, hammer thrower. Kobs was the gold medalist in the hammer throw at the 1999 (Seville) World Championships, where he threw 80.24m.
1980
Jadel Gregório, Brazil, triple jumper. Jadel Abdul Ghani Gregório was the world leader in the triple jump in 2007, the year that he won the silver medal in the (Osaka) World Championships triple jump. He also represented Brazil in the 2008 (Beijing) Olympic Games, where he placed sixth with a mark of 17.20m.
1984
Maryam Yusuf Jamal, Bahrain, middle-distance runner. Born in Ethiopia, competing for Bahrain, and training in Switzerland, Maryam Yusuf Jamal won the women's 1,500m at the 2007 (Tokyo) and 2009 (Berlin) World Championships.
Friday, August 7, 2009
August 7 Birthdays
1932
Abebe Bikila, Ethiopian long-distance runner. Bikila was the first athlete to repeat as an Olympic gold medalist in the marathon, winning both the 1960 (Rome) and 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic marathons, both in world best times (2:15:16.2 and 2:12:11.2). Notably, Bikila's shoes had worn out prior to the 1960 Olympic race, and, lacking properly-fitting footwear, he opted to run the marathon barefoot. Bikila won 12 of the 15 marathons that he started in his career, one of his rare losses being a fifth-place finish at Boston in 1963 (2:24:43). Paralyzed in an auto accident in 1969, Bikila died on 23 October 1973.
1950
David James "Dave" Wottle, American middle-distance runner. Dave Wottle won the 1972 (Munich) Olympic 800m race. Uncharacteristically for an 800-meter runner, Wottle ran almost perfectly even splits in the race, making it appear that he had started out slow and finished with a devastating kick. In reality, the other runners had gone out hard and Wottle had swept them up as they died. Wottle was also an NCAA 1500m champion in 1972 and NCAA mile champion in 1973.
Abebe Bikila, Ethiopian long-distance runner. Bikila was the first athlete to repeat as an Olympic gold medalist in the marathon, winning both the 1960 (Rome) and 1964 (Tokyo) Olympic marathons, both in world best times (2:15:16.2 and 2:12:11.2). Notably, Bikila's shoes had worn out prior to the 1960 Olympic race, and, lacking properly-fitting footwear, he opted to run the marathon barefoot. Bikila won 12 of the 15 marathons that he started in his career, one of his rare losses being a fifth-place finish at Boston in 1963 (2:24:43). Paralyzed in an auto accident in 1969, Bikila died on 23 October 1973.
1950
David James "Dave" Wottle, American middle-distance runner. Dave Wottle won the 1972 (Munich) Olympic 800m race. Uncharacteristically for an 800-meter runner, Wottle ran almost perfectly even splits in the race, making it appear that he had started out slow and finished with a devastating kick. In reality, the other runners had gone out hard and Wottle had swept them up as they died. Wottle was also an NCAA 1500m champion in 1972 and NCAA mile champion in 1973.
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