July 27, 1952 - Emil Zátopek becomes only person to ever win 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon in one Olympics

Today is Sunday, July 27, 2025 and on this day in 1952, Czechoslovakian runner Emil Zátopek became the first and only athlete in history to win the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon within one Olympic Games. In this episode we'll hear about Zátopek's first Olympic appearance 4 years earlier, discuss how his 1952 triumphs played out at the Olympics in Helsinki, and learn who also won gold just 10 minutes after Zátopek, cementing them both in the history books.

This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the Run on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or on Instagram as @robontherunpod.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.

Bibliography:

• ⁠https://www.on.com/en-gb/stories/the-legend-of-emil-zatopek-favoring-friendship-over-medals⁠

• ⁠https://jerusalem.czechcentres.cz/en/program/zatopkuv-beh-v-jeruzaleme⁠

• ⁠https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/a775206/emil-zatopek-the-man-who-changed-running/⁠

• ⁠https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emil-Zatopek⁠

• ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Z%C3%A1topek⁠

• ⁠https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/03/13/dana-zatopkova-double-olympic-javelin-champion-whose-love-affair/⁠

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417172915/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1952/ATH/mens-marathon.html⁠

• ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/jun/22/50-olympic-stunning-moments-emil-zatopek⁠

• ⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417050738/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/za/emil-zatopek-1.html⁠