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 August. Show all posts
Showing posts with label August. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
August 2 Birthdays
1955
Craig Steven Virgin, United States, distance runner. As a high school runner in Illinois, Craig Virgin broke Steve Prefontaine's national record for the high school two mile, setting a new record of 8:40.9. He went on to qualify for three U.S. Olympic teams in the 10,000 meters and finish second at the 1981 Boston Marathon (2:10:26), but his greatest successes were as a cross-country runner. He won the NCAA cross-country championship in 1975 and won the World Cross Country Championships in 1980 (Paris) and 1981 (Madrid). He remains the only American to ever win a world cross-country title.
Monday, August 31, 2009
August 31 Birthdays
1878
Frank Jarvis, United States, sprinter. Frank Washington Jarvis won the 100m at the 1900 (Paris) Olympic Games, running 11.0 in the final but equalling the world record of 10.8 in the first-round heats. Historians of athletics will recall that the American team did not realize that the meet they had been competing in was the Olympic Games until after the fact, when they read it on their awards. Jarvis passed away on 2 June 1933.
1955
Edwin Moses, United States, hurdles. Edwin Corley Moses was the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic Games 400m hurdles champion. Then between 1977 and 1987, Moses won an astonishing 122 straight races, including such high-level competitions as the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships 400m hurdles, the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games 400m hurdles, and the 1987 (Rome) World Championships 400m hurdles. He was also a bronze medalist at the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games in the 400m hurdles. During his career he set the world record in the 400m hurdles four times, lowering the record from 47.82 to 47.02 and reigning continuously as record holder from 1976 to 1992.
1960
Vali Ionescu, Romania, long jumper. Vali Ionescu-Constantin was the 1982 (Athens) European Champion in the women's long jump, the same year that she set a world record of 7.20m in that event. In 1984 she won the silver medal in the women's long jump at the (Los Angeles) Olympic Games, leaping 6.81m.
Frank Jarvis, United States, sprinter. Frank Washington Jarvis won the 100m at the 1900 (Paris) Olympic Games, running 11.0 in the final but equalling the world record of 10.8 in the first-round heats. Historians of athletics will recall that the American team did not realize that the meet they had been competing in was the Olympic Games until after the fact, when they read it on their awards. Jarvis passed away on 2 June 1933.
1955
Edwin Moses, United States, hurdles. Edwin Corley Moses was the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic Games 400m hurdles champion. Then between 1977 and 1987, Moses won an astonishing 122 straight races, including such high-level competitions as the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships 400m hurdles, the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games 400m hurdles, and the 1987 (Rome) World Championships 400m hurdles. He was also a bronze medalist at the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games in the 400m hurdles. During his career he set the world record in the 400m hurdles four times, lowering the record from 47.82 to 47.02 and reigning continuously as record holder from 1976 to 1992.
1960
Vali Ionescu, Romania, long jumper. Vali Ionescu-Constantin was the 1982 (Athens) European Champion in the women's long jump, the same year that she set a world record of 7.20m in that event. In 1984 she won the silver medal in the women's long jump at the (Los Angeles) Olympic Games, leaping 6.81m.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 30 Birthdays
1959
Saida Gunba, Soviet Union, javelin thrower. Saida Gunba was the silver medalist in the women's javelin at the 1980 (Moscow) Olympic Games; her throw at the games was 67.76m.
1985
Tianna Madison, United States, long jumper. Tianna Madison won the 2005 NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in the women's long jump. Later that same year she won the gold medal in the long jump at the 2005 (Helsinki) World Championships with a personal best mark of 6.89m.
Saida Gunba, Soviet Union, javelin thrower. Saida Gunba was the silver medalist in the women's javelin at the 1980 (Moscow) Olympic Games; her throw at the games was 67.76m.
1985
Tianna Madison, United States, long jumper. Tianna Madison won the 2005 NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in the women's long jump. Later that same year she won the gold medal in the long jump at the 2005 (Helsinki) World Championships with a personal best mark of 6.89m.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
August 29 Birthdays
1912
Sohn Kee-chung, Korean long-distance runner. Sohn Kee-chung won the 1936 (Berlin) Olympic marathon in a world-best time of 2:26:42. He was born in Sinanju, Korea, which had the misfortune of being part of the Japanese empire. Japanese officials forced Sohn Kee-chung to compete on the Japanese team under the Japanese name of Kitei Son. 52 years later, at age 73, Sohn Kee-chung, this time wearing a Korean uniform, carried the Olympic flame into the stadium for the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games.
1945
Wyomia Tyus, United States, sprinter. Wyomia Tyus was the first woman to repeat as Olympic 100m champion, winning the Olympic gold medal for 100m in both 1964 (Tokyo) and 1968 (Mexico City). Her time in the 1968 race was a world record 11.0 seconds.
1946
Bob Beamon, United States, long jumper. On 18 October 1968 at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, Robert Beamon leapt 29' 2½" (2.90m) in the first round of the long jump, winning the gold medal. His jump broke the existing world record by 21¾" (0.55m), or almost two feet. It remained the world record in the long jump for almost 23 years, and is still the Olympic record in that event as well as the second longest jump ever made. Dick Schaap wrote the aptly titled The Perfect Jump about Beamon. Beamon and Milana Walter Beamon have also told the long-jumpers story in The Man Who Could Fly: The Bob Beamon Story.
Sohn Kee-chung, Korean long-distance runner. Sohn Kee-chung won the 1936 (Berlin) Olympic marathon in a world-best time of 2:26:42. He was born in Sinanju, Korea, which had the misfortune of being part of the Japanese empire. Japanese officials forced Sohn Kee-chung to compete on the Japanese team under the Japanese name of Kitei Son. 52 years later, at age 73, Sohn Kee-chung, this time wearing a Korean uniform, carried the Olympic flame into the stadium for the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games.
1945
Wyomia Tyus, United States, sprinter. Wyomia Tyus was the first woman to repeat as Olympic 100m champion, winning the Olympic gold medal for 100m in both 1964 (Tokyo) and 1968 (Mexico City). Her time in the 1968 race was a world record 11.0 seconds.
1946
Bob Beamon, United States, long jumper. On 18 October 1968 at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, Robert Beamon leapt 29' 2½" (2.90m) in the first round of the long jump, winning the gold medal. His jump broke the existing world record by 21¾" (0.55m), or almost two feet. It remained the world record in the long jump for almost 23 years, and is still the Olympic record in that event as well as the second longest jump ever made. Dick Schaap wrote the aptly titled The Perfect Jump about Beamon. Beamon and Milana Walter Beamon have also told the long-jumpers story in The Man Who Could Fly: The Bob Beamon Story.
Friday, August 28, 2009
August 28 Birthdays
1963
Regina Jacobs, United States, middle-distance runner. Jacobs represented the United States at three-straight Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1996). She was more successful, however, at the world championships where she won a silver medal in the 1,500m (4:04.63) in 1997 (Athens) and another silver medal in the 1,500m (4:00.35) in 1999 (Seville). She tested positive for the anabolic steroid Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in 2003 and was suspended from athletic competition for four years by USA Track & Field.
Regina Jacobs, United States, middle-distance runner. Jacobs represented the United States at three-straight Olympic Games (1988, 1992, and 1996). She was more successful, however, at the world championships where she won a silver medal in the 1,500m (4:04.63) in 1997 (Athens) and another silver medal in the 1,500m (4:00.35) in 1999 (Seville). She tested positive for the anabolic steroid Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in 2003 and was suspended from athletic competition for four years by USA Track & Field.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August 27 Birthdays
1972
Denise Lewis, Great Britain, heptathlete. Denise Lewis was the 2000 (Sydney) Olympic Games champion in the women's heptathlon, scoring 6584 points. She also won gold medals in the Commonwealth Games heptathlon in 1994 (Victoria) and 1998 (Kuala Lumpur), a bronze medal in the 1996 (Atlanta) Olympic Games heptathlon, and silver medals in the heptathlon at the 1997 (Athens) and 1999 (Seville) World Championships in athletics. Additionally, she is not too bad of a dancer.
Denise Lewis, Great Britain, heptathlete. Denise Lewis was the 2000 (Sydney) Olympic Games champion in the women's heptathlon, scoring 6584 points. She also won gold medals in the Commonwealth Games heptathlon in 1994 (Victoria) and 1998 (Kuala Lumpur), a bronze medal in the 1996 (Atlanta) Olympic Games heptathlon, and silver medals in the heptathlon at the 1997 (Athens) and 1999 (Seville) World Championships in athletics. Additionally, she is not too bad of a dancer.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 26 Birthdays
1962
Roger Kingdom, United States, hurdler. Roger Kingdom won the gold medal at the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games in the 110m hurdles, running an Olympic record time of 13.20. At the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games he not only successfully defended his title but lowered the Olympic record to 12.98 seconds. On 16 August 1989 in Zurich he set a world record of 12.92 in the 110m hurdles. Kingdom underwent knee surgery in 1991, but had recovered enough four years later to win a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the 1995 (Gothenburg) World Championships.
Roger Kingdom, United States, hurdler. Roger Kingdom won the gold medal at the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games in the 110m hurdles, running an Olympic record time of 13.20. At the 1988 (Seoul) Olympic Games he not only successfully defended his title but lowered the Olympic record to 12.98 seconds. On 16 August 1989 in Zurich he set a world record of 12.92 in the 110m hurdles. Kingdom underwent knee surgery in 1991, but had recovered enough four years later to win a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the 1995 (Gothenburg) World Championships.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 21 Birthdays
1921
Chris Brasher, Great Britain, distance runner. Brasher won the gold medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 1956 (Melbourne) Olympic Games, running 8:41.2. He was also one of Roger Bannister's pacemakers on 6 May 1954 when Bannister became the first man to break 4:00 for the one-mile run.
1986
Usain Bolt, Jamaica, sprinter. Bolt holds world records of 9.58 for 100m and 19.30 for 200m. He was the silver medalist in the 200m (19.91) at the 2007 (Osaka) World Championionships. The following year, Bolt won gold medals in the 100m dash (9.69) and the 200m dash (19.30) at the 2008 (Beijing) Olympic Games. In 2009 he won the gold medal in the 100m dash at the (Berlin) World Championships in Athletics, running a world-record 9.58. Only days later he also won the World Championships 200m in a world-record 19.19.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
August 18 Birthdays
1955
Gerhardus "Gerard" Nijboer, Netherlands, long-distance runner. Three months after running his career-best marathon (2:09:01), Nijboer won the silver medal in the 1980 (Moscow) Olympic marathon. He went on to win the 1982 (Athens) European Championships marathon (2:15:16).
Gerhardus "Gerard" Nijboer, Netherlands, long-distance runner. Three months after running his career-best marathon (2:09:01), Nijboer won the silver medal in the 1980 (Moscow) Olympic marathon. He went on to win the 1982 (Athens) European Championships marathon (2:15:16).
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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