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袛薪械褋 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褖械 褍屑褉械屑 锌芯 屑邪谢泻芯: 袧械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻
袣邪泻 械写懈薪 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪 胁芯泄薪懈泻 芯褌 屑邪谢泻芯褌芯 褔械褕泻芯 谐褉邪写褔械 袣芯锌褉褕懈胁薪懈褑械 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪 薪械胁械褉芯褟褌薪懈褌械 褋懈 褍屑械薪懈褟 薪邪 斜械谐邪褔, 蟹邪 写邪 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪械 褋胁械褌芯胁薪邪 褋谢邪胁邪 懈 写邪 锌芯泻芯褉懈 褋褗褉褑邪褌邪 薪邪 屑懈谢懈芯薪懈 褏芯褉邪?
袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 懈蟹屑械褋褌胁邪 谐褉邪薪懈褑邪褌邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械褕泻邪褌邪 懈蟹写褉褗卸谢懈胁芯褋褌 懈 胁芯谢褟 褋邪屑芯 褋 锌芯屑芯褖褌邪 薪邪 芯谐褉芯屑薪懈褟 褍褉邪谐邪薪 芯褌 写芯斜褉芯褌邪 懈 褔芯胁械褔薪芯褋褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 蟹邪胁懈褏褉褟 芯泻芯谢芯 褋械斜械 褋懈, 褌芯褔薪芯 泻芯谐邪褌芯 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪, 褔械 褖械 褉褍褏薪械 芯褌 斜芯谢泻邪 懈 懈蟹褌芯褖械薪懈械. 袙芯写械薪 芯褌 屑芯褌芯褌芯 褋懈 鈥炐毿拘承把傂� 薪褟屑邪褕 褋懈谢懈 写邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈褕, 褍胁械谢懈褔懈 褋泻芯褉芯褋褌褌邪!鈥�, 褌芯泄 斜褟谐邪 芯斜褍褌 胁褗胁 胁芯泄薪懈褕泻懈 斜芯褌褍褕懈, 胁 褋薪褟谐 懈 锌褟褋褗泻, 锌褉械蟹 薪芯褖褌邪, 褋 褌械卸褗泻 褌芯胁邪褉 薪邪 谐褉褗斜 懈 锌械褔械谢懈 褋胁械褌芯胁薪芯 锌褉懈蟹薪邪薪懈械 懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢褋褌胁邪.
袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 械 薪芯褋懈褌械谢 薪邪 18 褋胁械褌芯胁薪懈, 4 芯谢懈屑锌懈泄褋泻懈 懈 50 薪邪褑懈芯薪邪谢薪懈 褉械泻芯褉写邪 懈 芯褋褌邪胁邪 薪械薪邪写屑懈薪邪褌 薪邪 10 000 屑械褌褉邪 胁 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 褑械谢懈 褕械褋褌 谐芯写懈薪懈. 袩芯斜械写懈褌械 屑褍 锌褉芯褋谢邪胁褟褌 褋褌褉邪薪邪褌邪 屑褍, 薪芯 泻芯谐邪褌芯 锌褉械蟹 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻邪褌邪 1968 谐. 褋褗胁械褌褋泻懈褌械 褌邪薪泻芯胁械 胁谢懈蟹邪褌 胁 效械褏芯褋谢芯胁邪泻懈褟, 胁 卸懈胁芯褌a 薪邪 邪褌谢械褌邪 薪邪褋褌褗锌胁邪褌 写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪懈 锌褉芯屑械薪懈. 袙褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 械 褉械邪斜懈谢懈褌懈褉邪薪 20 谐芯写懈薪懈 锌芯-泻褗褋薪芯, 褌芯泄 械 褋褟薪泻邪 薪邪 锌褉械写懈褕薪懈褟 袝屑懈谢, 邪 芯斜褉邪蟹褗褌 屑褍 械 锌芯屑褉邪褔械薪 芯褌 泻芯薪褋锌懈褉邪褌懈胁薪懈 褋褗屑薪械薪懈褟.
孝芯胁邪 械 蟹邪斜械谢械卸懈褌械谢械薪 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 薪邪 袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褋谢邪胁邪褌邪 懈 褌褉邪谐懈蟹屑褗褌 褋械 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪胁邪褌 褉邪屑芯 写芯 褉邪屑芯. 袟邪 锌褉褗胁 锌褗褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 屑褍 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 械 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪薪邪 芯褌 袪懈褔邪褉写 袗褋泻褍懈褌 懈 械 斜邪蟹懈褉邪薪邪 薪邪 蟹邪写褗谢斜芯褔械薪懈褌械 锌褉芯褍褔胁邪薪懈褟 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪 懈 褋褉械褖懈褌械 屑褍 褋褗褋 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪褌邪 薪邪 袝屑懈谢 鈥� 袛邪薪邪, 懈 薪械谐芯胁懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈 懈 褉芯写薪懈薪懈.
小械谐邪 胁懈械 写褗褉卸懈褌械 胁 褉褗褑械褌械 褋懈 褉械蟹褍谢褌邪褌邪 芯褌 褌械蟹懈 锌褉芯褍褔胁邪薪懈褟 鈥� 锌褗谢薪芯泻褉褗胁薪懈褟 芯斜褉邪蟹 薪邪 械写薪邪 蟹邪斜械谢械卸懈褌械谢薪邪 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌, 褔懈褟褌芯 胁芯谢褟 懈 芯谐褉芯屑薪芯 褋褗褉褑械 薪懈 锌芯泻邪蟹胁邪褌, 褔械 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈褟褌 褔芯胁械泻 械 褋锌芯褋芯斜械薪 薪邪 薪械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 薪械褖邪.
袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 懈蟹屑械褋褌胁邪 谐褉邪薪懈褑邪褌邪 薪邪 褔芯胁械褕泻邪褌邪 懈蟹写褉褗卸谢懈胁芯褋褌 懈 胁芯谢褟 褋邪屑芯 褋 锌芯屑芯褖褌邪 薪邪 芯谐褉芯屑薪懈褟 褍褉邪谐邪薪 芯褌 写芯斜褉芯褌邪 懈 褔芯胁械褔薪芯褋褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 蟹邪胁懈褏褉褟 芯泻芯谢芯 褋械斜械 褋懈, 褌芯褔薪芯 泻芯谐邪褌芯 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪, 褔械 褖械 褉褍褏薪械 芯褌 斜芯谢泻邪 懈 懈蟹褌芯褖械薪懈械. 袙芯写械薪 芯褌 屑芯褌芯褌芯 褋懈 鈥炐毿拘承把傂� 薪褟屑邪褕 褋懈谢懈 写邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈褕, 褍胁械谢懈褔懈 褋泻芯褉芯褋褌褌邪!鈥�, 褌芯泄 斜褟谐邪 芯斜褍褌 胁褗胁 胁芯泄薪懈褕泻懈 斜芯褌褍褕懈, 胁 褋薪褟谐 懈 锌褟褋褗泻, 锌褉械蟹 薪芯褖褌邪, 褋 褌械卸褗泻 褌芯胁邪褉 薪邪 谐褉褗斜 懈 锌械褔械谢懈 褋胁械褌芯胁薪芯 锌褉懈蟹薪邪薪懈械 懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢褋褌胁邪.
袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 械 薪芯褋懈褌械谢 薪邪 18 褋胁械褌芯胁薪懈, 4 芯谢懈屑锌懈泄褋泻懈 懈 50 薪邪褑懈芯薪邪谢薪懈 褉械泻芯褉写邪 懈 芯褋褌邪胁邪 薪械薪邪写屑懈薪邪褌 薪邪 10 000 屑械褌褉邪 胁 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 褑械谢懈 褕械褋褌 谐芯写懈薪懈. 袩芯斜械写懈褌械 屑褍 锌褉芯褋谢邪胁褟褌 褋褌褉邪薪邪褌邪 屑褍, 薪芯 泻芯谐邪褌芯 锌褉械蟹 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻邪褌邪 1968 谐. 褋褗胁械褌褋泻懈褌械 褌邪薪泻芯胁械 胁谢懈蟹邪褌 胁 效械褏芯褋谢芯胁邪泻懈褟, 胁 卸懈胁芯褌a 薪邪 邪褌谢械褌邪 薪邪褋褌褗锌胁邪褌 写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪懈 锌褉芯屑械薪懈. 袙褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 械 褉械邪斜懈谢懈褌懈褉邪薪 20 谐芯写懈薪懈 锌芯-泻褗褋薪芯, 褌芯泄 械 褋褟薪泻邪 薪邪 锌褉械写懈褕薪懈褟 袝屑懈谢, 邪 芯斜褉邪蟹褗褌 屑褍 械 锌芯屑褉邪褔械薪 芯褌 泻芯薪褋锌懈褉邪褌懈胁薪懈 褋褗屑薪械薪懈褟.
孝芯胁邪 械 蟹邪斜械谢械卸懈褌械谢械薪 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹 蟹邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 薪邪 袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褋谢邪胁邪褌邪 懈 褌褉邪谐懈蟹屑褗褌 褋械 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪胁邪褌 褉邪屑芯 写芯 褉邪屑芯. 袟邪 锌褉褗胁 锌褗褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻邪褌邪 屑褍 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 械 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪薪邪 芯褌 袪懈褔邪褉写 袗褋泻褍懈褌 懈 械 斜邪蟹懈褉邪薪邪 薪邪 蟹邪写褗谢斜芯褔械薪懈褌械 锌褉芯褍褔胁邪薪懈褟 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪 懈 褋褉械褖懈褌械 屑褍 褋褗褋 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪褌邪 薪邪 袝屑懈谢 鈥� 袛邪薪邪, 懈 薪械谐芯胁懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈 懈 褉芯写薪懈薪懈.
小械谐邪 胁懈械 写褗褉卸懈褌械 胁 褉褗褑械褌械 褋懈 褉械蟹褍谢褌邪褌邪 芯褌 褌械蟹懈 锌褉芯褍褔胁邪薪懈褟 鈥� 锌褗谢薪芯泻褉褗胁薪懈褟 芯斜褉邪蟹 薪邪 械写薪邪 蟹邪斜械谢械卸懈褌械谢薪邪 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌, 褔懈褟褌芯 胁芯谢褟 懈 芯谐褉芯屑薪芯 褋褗褉褑械 薪懈 锌芯泻邪蟹胁邪褌, 褔械 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈褟褌 褔芯胁械泻 械 褋锌芯褋芯斜械薪 薪邪 薪械芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 薪械褖邪.
416 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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August 7, 2017
As a runner myself, I often look for sources of inspiration. Training is rewarding, but every so often a day comes along when I question whether it is all worth it or not. Zatopek proves that is, indeed, all worth it. He put copious amounts of effort into his training, and the number of races he won over his career as a professional athlete clearly shows the results of it.
His training regimen is insanely intense by today's standards, and by the standards of his own era it was even more so. He essentially devised his own form of interval training, increasing its intensity until the level reached awe-inspiring amounts of exertion. What Askwith captures here, with his biography of the legendary runner, is the sheer level of determination and single-mindedness Zatopek possessed. Illness got in the way of his preparation on several occasions, but he never gave up; he did some astonishing things to ensure he got fitter, and fitter.
For example, when he couldn't go outside to run due to bad weather he would simply run on the spot for extended periods of time. He would even do it whilst on guard duty during his time in the military. He was driven by a desire for self-improvement. However, he was also an excellent sportsman. The biography also considers his attitude to other competitors, the respect and encouragement he always gave to them. Despite all his accomplishments, Zatopek never stooped to arrogance. He was calm and he was focused; he was a legendary joker and was renowned for being able to find fun in any situation. He captivated the world when he ran in the Olympics, and his legacy still lingers on today.
Such things, though, are widely known about Zatopek. The true success of Akswith's writing is his ability to get really close to the man. He travelled to the locations where the runner trained, jogged and belted his heart out on the track. The writing brings these sessions to life. The races as told here were energetic and intense even when I knew the endings. They are the words of a runner admiring an extraordinary athlete in the sport. He retells how Zatopek met his wife Dana, and considers how Zatopek's gold medal glory pushed her to reach for the same. His passion for Zatopek and running gives the book an added edge.
The biography goes beyond Zatopek's glory days; the days when he was at his peak, winning three gold medals in one set of Olympic Games, and considers the trials he went through in order to succeed. Indeed, Askwith considers how he got there and what he had to deal with at the time. His life was a constant struggle, but his spirit never faltered even when he was disgraced from his post in the military over political disagreement. He had a lot of pressure on him from his nation of Czechoslovakia; he was their poster boy: their inspiration. He did his utmost best never to let them down. But as Askwith noted, the main person he ran for was himself. He always wanted to do better.
-I received an advanced reading copy of this book from The Bookbag in exchange for an honest review, originally posted .
His training regimen is insanely intense by today's standards, and by the standards of his own era it was even more so. He essentially devised his own form of interval training, increasing its intensity until the level reached awe-inspiring amounts of exertion. What Askwith captures here, with his biography of the legendary runner, is the sheer level of determination and single-mindedness Zatopek possessed. Illness got in the way of his preparation on several occasions, but he never gave up; he did some astonishing things to ensure he got fitter, and fitter.
For example, when he couldn't go outside to run due to bad weather he would simply run on the spot for extended periods of time. He would even do it whilst on guard duty during his time in the military. He was driven by a desire for self-improvement. However, he was also an excellent sportsman. The biography also considers his attitude to other competitors, the respect and encouragement he always gave to them. Despite all his accomplishments, Zatopek never stooped to arrogance. He was calm and he was focused; he was a legendary joker and was renowned for being able to find fun in any situation. He captivated the world when he ran in the Olympics, and his legacy still lingers on today.
Such things, though, are widely known about Zatopek. The true success of Akswith's writing is his ability to get really close to the man. He travelled to the locations where the runner trained, jogged and belted his heart out on the track. The writing brings these sessions to life. The races as told here were energetic and intense even when I knew the endings. They are the words of a runner admiring an extraordinary athlete in the sport. He retells how Zatopek met his wife Dana, and considers how Zatopek's gold medal glory pushed her to reach for the same. His passion for Zatopek and running gives the book an added edge.
The biography goes beyond Zatopek's glory days; the days when he was at his peak, winning three gold medals in one set of Olympic Games, and considers the trials he went through in order to succeed. Indeed, Askwith considers how he got there and what he had to deal with at the time. His life was a constant struggle, but his spirit never faltered even when he was disgraced from his post in the military over political disagreement. He had a lot of pressure on him from his nation of Czechoslovakia; he was their poster boy: their inspiration. He did his utmost best never to let them down. But as Askwith noted, the main person he ran for was himself. He always wanted to do better.
-I received an advanced reading copy of this book from The Bookbag in exchange for an honest review, originally posted .
March 15, 2025
袛薪械褋 锌芯褔褌懈 薪懈泻芯泄 芯褌 褋胁械褌邪 懈蟹胁褗薪 谢械泻邪褌邪 邪褌谢械褌懈泻邪 薪械 锌芯屑薪懈 懈 薪械 蟹薪邪械, 泻芯泄 械 袝屑懈谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻.
袟邪 锌褗褉胁懈 锌褗褌 邪蟹 薪邪褍褔懈褏 蟹邪 薪械谐芯 芯褌 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪 薪邪 薪械薪邪写屑懈薪邪褌芯褌芯 薪懈 褋锌芯褉褌薪芯 锌械褉芯 袠胁芯 袠胁邪薪芯胁, 写芯谢械褌褟谢 写芯 薪邪褋 芯褌 写邪谢械褔械薪 袣邪薪蟹邪褋:
袣芯谐邪褌芯 懈蟹写邪褌械谢褋褌胁芯 "袙邪泻芯薪" 懈蟹写邪写械 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟褌邪 屑褍 薪邪 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻懈, 胁械褔械 蟹薪邪械褏 褔械 褖械 蟹邪械屑械 屑褟褋褌芯褌芯 褋懈 胁 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 屑懈.
袙 薪械褟 褋械 芯锌懈褋胁邪 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 薪邪 械写懈薪 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪 褔芯胁械泻, 锌褉懈蟹胁邪薪 芯褌 屑邪谐懈褟褌邪 薪邪 褋锌芯褉褌邪 写邪 懈蟹胁褗褉褕懈 褔褍褌芯胁薪懈 锌芯写胁懈蟹懈.
袣薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 褍胁谢械泻邪褌械谢薪芯 懈 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪邪, 斜械蟹 写邪 褋锌械褋褌褟胁邪 薪懈褖芯 - 胁械谢懈泻懈褟褌 邪褌谢械褌 懈 写褉褍谐邪褉 薪邪 褋胁械褌芯胁薪懈褌械 褋锌芯褉褌懈褋褌懈 锌褉械卸懈胁褟胁邪 芯褋胁械薪 褋谢邪胁邪褌邪 懈 褋胁芯褟褌邪 卸懈褌械泄褋泻邪 谐芯谢谐芯褌邪, 芯褌 芯褋邪薪薪邪 写芯 褉邪蟹锌薪懈 谐芯! 袠 褋邪屑芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪, 薪械锌芯蟹薪邪谢懈 褍褉芯写谢懈胁芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 泻芯屑褍薪懈蟹屑邪 斜懈褏邪 褋械 锌芯写胁械谢懈 写邪 谐芯 褋褗写褟褌.
袗胁褌芯褉褗褌 写芯褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 写芯斜褉械 芯锌懈褋胁邪 胁邪卸薪懈褌械 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈褟 胁 泻邪褉懈械褉邪褌邪 薪邪 袝屑懈谢, 褔械 懈 邪蟹 屑懈褋谢械薪薪芯 褋械 锌褉械薪邪褋褟褏 褌邪屑. 袠 锌芯谢褍褔懈褏 褔邪褋褌懈褔泻邪 芯褌 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯, 泻邪泻胁芯 械 70 000 褔芯胁械泻邪 懈蟹锌褉邪胁械薪懈 薪邪 泻褉邪泻邪 写邪 褋泻邪薪写懈褉邪褌 懈屑械褌芯 褌懈 锌褉械写懈 褎懈薪邪谢邪 薪邪 薪邪写锌褉械胁邪褉邪褌邪!
袟邪-褌芯-锌械泻! 袟邪-褌芯-锌械泻! 袟邪-褌芯-锌械泻!
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May 28, 2024On the whole, I鈥檓 not really a fan of sporting biographies. The modern ones tend to be quite dry and what these 鈥榟eroes鈥� have achieved doesn鈥檛 always add up to much. But then you鈥檝e got someone like Z谩topek. In the 1952 Olympics, he won both the 5000 and 10000 metre races in Olympic record times, then 鈥� just in case we weren鈥檛 convinced 鈥� he asked if he could run in the marathon. It was the first marathon he鈥檇 ever run in his life. And he won it. In Olympic record time! He wasn鈥檛 much to look at and, when he ran, he had the gait of a clobbering, old carthorse but, my god, he was the best.
For more of my reviews please visit
For more of my reviews please visit
August 30, 2021
Vyl铆膷it Emila jako zloducha v tragick茅m osudu 膶eskoslovenska znamen谩 拧patn臎 ch谩pat jak jeho, tak i ten tragick媒 osud. Byl ob臎t铆: ne bez viny, ale p艡esto ob臎t铆.
Pokud se vyd谩te po stop谩ch Z谩topka, tak m谩te probl茅m. Je toho p艡ehr拧el; u n谩s i ve sv臎t臎. Jen啪e v臎t拧ina se d谩 rozd臎lit do t艡铆 kategori铆. Jednak na oslavn茅, kde je Z谩topek nespornou legendou sv臎tov茅ho olympijsk茅ho sportu, pr暖kopn铆k drilu a spojuj铆c铆 most mezi n谩rody. Takov茅 jsou nej膷ast臎j拧铆 a vlastn臎 i nejvd臎膷n臎j拧铆. Pak je tu sv臎t Z谩topka "lidov茅ho vyprav臎膷e" se v拧emi t臎mi (polo)pravdami, m媒ty a historkami. Snad o 啪谩dn茅m jin茅m sportovci (minim谩ln臎 na拧em) neexistuje tolik slovutn媒ch a v拧em zn谩m媒ch historek; od darovan媒ch olympijsk媒ch medail铆 p艡es eskap谩dy s man啪elkou Danou a啪 po "hele, Z谩topek". Jsou toho kvanta a jak tomu tak b媒v谩, n臎kter茅 jsou p艡ikr谩拧len茅 a jin茅 ne, n臎kter茅 maj铆 re谩ln媒 z谩klad, ale jin茅 okolnosti. No a ty nejneuv臎艡iteln臎j拧铆 jsou, sv臎te div se, pravdiv茅. Pak je tu je拧t臎 t艡et铆, ryze "膷ech谩膷kovsk谩", kategorie Z谩topka udava膷e, arm谩dn铆ho d暖stojn铆ka, komunisty a aktivn铆ho spolupracovn铆ka StB.
Ov拧em asi to prost臎 cht臎lo a啪 pohled zven膷铆, ov拧em z谩rove艌 pohled, kter媒 "n谩m 膶ech暖m" a normalizaci rozum铆, pohled n臎koho, kdo Z谩topka obdivuje, ale nezav铆r谩 o膷i p艡ed chybami, aby se v媒拧e t艡i uveden茅 kategorie spojily v knize, kter谩 je hlavn臎 a p艡edev拧铆m o 膷lov臎ku. Nikoli piedestalov茅m Z谩topkovi 膷i zavr啪en铆hodn茅m komunistick茅m udava膷i, ale prost臎 o Emilu "扭opkovi" Z谩topkovi. A je to kniha, kter谩 nen铆 ani o p铆膹 m茅n臎 zaj铆mav谩 ne啪 byl Z谩topk暖v 啪ivot. Tolik kontroverzn铆ch moment暖, tolik z谩pis暖 do d臎jin sportu, takov茅 inspirov谩n铆 lid铆 nap艡铆膷 sv臎tad铆ly, tolik vzlet暖 z nuzn媒ch pom臎r暖 a o to t臎啪拧铆ch p谩d暖 do zapomn臎n铆... To je tak neskonale vd臎膷n茅, 啪e by byl kum拧t to promrhat. A Askwith nepromrh谩v谩 ani str谩nku.
Pokud v谩s tedy zaj铆m谩 TEN Z谩topek 膷i "proto啪e sami b臎h谩te, tak pro膷 si nep艡e膷铆st o nejlep拧铆m b臎啪ci sv茅 doby", tak mo啪n谩 najdete i lep拧铆 zdroje. Pokud v谩拧 v拧ak zaj铆m谩 investigativn铆 pohled na 扭opkovy osudy, tak pak jen st臎啪铆.
Pokud se vyd谩te po stop谩ch Z谩topka, tak m谩te probl茅m. Je toho p艡ehr拧el; u n谩s i ve sv臎t臎. Jen啪e v臎t拧ina se d谩 rozd臎lit do t艡铆 kategori铆. Jednak na oslavn茅, kde je Z谩topek nespornou legendou sv臎tov茅ho olympijsk茅ho sportu, pr暖kopn铆k drilu a spojuj铆c铆 most mezi n谩rody. Takov茅 jsou nej膷ast臎j拧铆 a vlastn臎 i nejvd臎膷n臎j拧铆. Pak je tu sv臎t Z谩topka "lidov茅ho vyprav臎膷e" se v拧emi t臎mi (polo)pravdami, m媒ty a historkami. Snad o 啪谩dn茅m jin茅m sportovci (minim谩ln臎 na拧em) neexistuje tolik slovutn媒ch a v拧em zn谩m媒ch historek; od darovan媒ch olympijsk媒ch medail铆 p艡es eskap谩dy s man啪elkou Danou a啪 po "hele, Z谩topek". Jsou toho kvanta a jak tomu tak b媒v谩, n臎kter茅 jsou p艡ikr谩拧len茅 a jin茅 ne, n臎kter茅 maj铆 re谩ln媒 z谩klad, ale jin茅 okolnosti. No a ty nejneuv臎艡iteln臎j拧铆 jsou, sv臎te div se, pravdiv茅. Pak je tu je拧t臎 t艡et铆, ryze "膷ech谩膷kovsk谩", kategorie Z谩topka udava膷e, arm谩dn铆ho d暖stojn铆ka, komunisty a aktivn铆ho spolupracovn铆ka StB.
Ov拧em asi to prost臎 cht臎lo a啪 pohled zven膷铆, ov拧em z谩rove艌 pohled, kter媒 "n谩m 膶ech暖m" a normalizaci rozum铆, pohled n臎koho, kdo Z谩topka obdivuje, ale nezav铆r谩 o膷i p艡ed chybami, aby se v媒拧e t艡i uveden茅 kategorie spojily v knize, kter谩 je hlavn臎 a p艡edev拧铆m o 膷lov臎ku. Nikoli piedestalov茅m Z谩topkovi 膷i zavr啪en铆hodn茅m komunistick茅m udava膷i, ale prost臎 o Emilu "扭opkovi" Z谩topkovi. A je to kniha, kter谩 nen铆 ani o p铆膹 m茅n臎 zaj铆mav谩 ne啪 byl Z谩topk暖v 啪ivot. Tolik kontroverzn铆ch moment暖, tolik z谩pis暖 do d臎jin sportu, takov茅 inspirov谩n铆 lid铆 nap艡铆膷 sv臎tad铆ly, tolik vzlet暖 z nuzn媒ch pom臎r暖 a o to t臎啪拧铆ch p谩d暖 do zapomn臎n铆... To je tak neskonale vd臎膷n茅, 啪e by byl kum拧t to promrhat. A Askwith nepromrh谩v谩 ani str谩nku.
Pokud v谩s tedy zaj铆m谩 TEN Z谩topek 膷i "proto啪e sami b臎h谩te, tak pro膷 si nep艡e膷铆st o nejlep拧铆m b臎啪ci sv茅 doby", tak mo啪n谩 najdete i lep拧铆 zdroje. Pokud v谩拧 v拧ak zaj铆m谩 investigativn铆 pohled na 扭opkovy osudy, tak pak jen st臎啪铆.
November 1, 2016
At the October Book Caf茅 we were presented with a list of contenders for the William Hill prize for sports writing. Well, yawn, I thought... and then we decided on 'an unfamiliar genre' as our next theme, so I thought maybe a sports biography, the sort of thing people get for Christmas to give men who are difficult to buy for. And there was Zatopek, a name from the past that I remembered as significant (and the book would not be all about running, surely, given the politics of Czechoslovakia). Indeed there were two biographies of him on the shortlist.
I went with Askwith and then remembered that I have read a book about running by him which I very much enjoyed, so I anticipated being in for a decent quality of writing. And I was. It is clear from the book that there are 'positions' on Zatopek, but he sold me effortlessly on his. My lips trembled and my eyes watered on several occasions whilst reading... and not because of slushy sentimental writing. There are very, very few places where that does occur and those do not have the same impact.
I run now but I am really not terribly interested in the business of shaving seconds off times, yet I found myself breathlessly gripped by the race element of the book. I appreciated too the way in which the very complex issue of the political climate and Zapotek's part in it was handled, and that the later years of physical and cognitive decline were not rushed through. I don't know whether there was a whole chunk of story swept under the carpet or unresearched out of sensitivity to Dana, his widow... and because of Askwith's presentation of this as very much a love story about a romantic character. Askwith puts just enough of himself into the book - I thought, feared, that he might say too much about his own running, but he does not. He is clearly inspired by a very human hero, and inspires us too, whether we run or not.
I went with Askwith and then remembered that I have read a book about running by him which I very much enjoyed, so I anticipated being in for a decent quality of writing. And I was. It is clear from the book that there are 'positions' on Zatopek, but he sold me effortlessly on his. My lips trembled and my eyes watered on several occasions whilst reading... and not because of slushy sentimental writing. There are very, very few places where that does occur and those do not have the same impact.
I run now but I am really not terribly interested in the business of shaving seconds off times, yet I found myself breathlessly gripped by the race element of the book. I appreciated too the way in which the very complex issue of the political climate and Zapotek's part in it was handled, and that the later years of physical and cognitive decline were not rushed through. I don't know whether there was a whole chunk of story swept under the carpet or unresearched out of sensitivity to Dana, his widow... and because of Askwith's presentation of this as very much a love story about a romantic character. Askwith puts just enough of himself into the book - I thought, feared, that he might say too much about his own running, but he does not. He is clearly inspired by a very human hero, and inspires us too, whether we run or not.
December 16, 2016
Thank you Richard Askwith! I read the book in two days. Finns chanted him 'Satu Peka' (i.e. Pekka, my first name) transl. Fairy-tale Pete. "His defining characteristic was that 'he tried everything differently'." His was criticized for his running style. "Emil shrugged off such jibes. 'I will run with perfect style when they start judging races for their beauty, like figure-skating'... 'For now, I just want to run as fast as possible'." He was very clever, spoke eight languages, Finnish among others. He liked to talk and make people laugh. He showed moral greatness, just like Muhammad Ali when he "refused to be inducted into the US armed forces". He risked attending Helsinki 1952 olympics defending his teammate Stanislaw Jungwirth. The Party decided that Jungwirth could not travel because his father was a political prisoner. Emil said if Stanislaw is not going, I am not either. Their departure was delayed for three days. When the Warsaw Pact countries started invading Czechoslovakia twenty minutes before midnight on August 20, 1968, Emil joined the protestors and denouched the invasion. He had to pay a heavy prize for that. Emil and his wife Dana were both born on September 19, 1922. They also got married on September 19. Emil won 5000 meters in Helsinki. An hour later Dana won the javelin. Emil had many life long friends in his sport, Alain Mimoun and Ron Clarke among others. Z谩topek died on November 22, 2000. "It would have been too much to hope to die on the same day as well." No more spoilers. Read the book!
I met and talked to Z谩topek on July 26, 1981. He was invited to give prizes at the awards ceremony for the first Helsinki City Marathon. What a memorable day!
I met and talked to Z谩topek on July 26, 1981. He was invited to give prizes at the awards ceremony for the first Helsinki City Marathon. What a memorable day!
February 18, 2021
This biopic has everything: an athlete competing at Olympian level (1948, 1952 and 1956); the backdrop of an emerging bipolar world; the threat and deception of an intrusive state; unadulterated joy. Zatopek鈥檚 legend is raised to mythical standards.
Zatopek was a Czechoslovak hero and world-famous athlete in the 1950s. He later became a cult-hero, albeit with wildly varying levels of public appreciation.
Askwith delves deep into the historical context of his era, unveiling the cultural and political significance of his races. The framing of sporting glory within the historical narrative is what makes it so special. I love running, but a book that focused on leg cadence certainly wouldn鈥檛 grab my attention.
To be fair, runners who author books provide surprising variety in their writing styles; Murakami contemplative and methodical; Parker Jr. dark and elitist; McNuff joyful and haphazard; McDougall pure breathless enthusiasm. I think Askwith鈥檚 Zatopek might just pip them all at the finish line.
One reason it is so life-affirming is the extremely high esteem in which the author holds his subject. Askwith admits that Zatopek is his hero. He travels the world to pick up the pieces of the story, even running a half marathon in Zatopek鈥檚 hometown, with the great runner鈥檚 thoughts racing through his own head:
There are certainly deep moral questions to be asked of Zatopek. The perfect embodiment of the worker spirit, who鈥檇 stop at nothing to triumph for his country; he was showcased worldwide as the communist ideal.
He was a committed socialist in theory, but Askwith reveals the nuances and inconsistencies of the ideology in practice. Zatopek was vehemently anti-Soviet during the Prague Spring in 1968 yet had previously put his name to the shaming of prominent liberals in major newspapers.
Socialism demanded that Zatopek run two races simultaneously: one on the international stage, to the acclaim of the global community, and one through the psyche of the people鈥檚 republic, to please the overseers in the mines of J谩chymov.
From a runner鈥檚 perspective, the guy was a nutcase. 32km training days of 400m sprint repeats. Day after day after day.
From a human perspective, he had a magnetic personality that allowed him to capture hearts and minds in every corner of the globe.
A remarkable man, and a remarkable book.
Zatopek was a Czechoslovak hero and world-famous athlete in the 1950s. He later became a cult-hero, albeit with wildly varying levels of public appreciation.
Askwith delves deep into the historical context of his era, unveiling the cultural and political significance of his races. The framing of sporting glory within the historical narrative is what makes it so special. I love running, but a book that focused on leg cadence certainly wouldn鈥檛 grab my attention.
To be fair, runners who author books provide surprising variety in their writing styles; Murakami contemplative and methodical; Parker Jr. dark and elitist; McNuff joyful and haphazard; McDougall pure breathless enthusiasm. I think Askwith鈥檚 Zatopek might just pip them all at the finish line.
One reason it is so life-affirming is the extremely high esteem in which the author holds his subject. Askwith admits that Zatopek is his hero. He travels the world to pick up the pieces of the story, even running a half marathon in Zatopek鈥檚 hometown, with the great runner鈥檚 thoughts racing through his own head:
鈥楶ain is merciful鈥�I鈥檝e rarely seen such an exhaustive examination of a person鈥檚 morality. As if bent by a desire to reveal Zatopek鈥檚 innermost thoughts, Askwith queries Zatopek鈥檚 major life decisions with a Sherlockian lens, desperate to ascertain whether he acted in good faith.
鈥楢m I tired? That doesn鈥檛 matter鈥�
鈥榃hen you can鈥檛 keep going, go faster鈥�
There are certainly deep moral questions to be asked of Zatopek. The perfect embodiment of the worker spirit, who鈥檇 stop at nothing to triumph for his country; he was showcased worldwide as the communist ideal.
He was a committed socialist in theory, but Askwith reveals the nuances and inconsistencies of the ideology in practice. Zatopek was vehemently anti-Soviet during the Prague Spring in 1968 yet had previously put his name to the shaming of prominent liberals in major newspapers.
Socialism demanded that Zatopek run two races simultaneously: one on the international stage, to the acclaim of the global community, and one through the psyche of the people鈥檚 republic, to please the overseers in the mines of J谩chymov.
From a runner鈥檚 perspective, the guy was a nutcase. 32km training days of 400m sprint repeats. Day after day after day.
From a human perspective, he had a magnetic personality that allowed him to capture hearts and minds in every corner of the globe.
A remarkable man, and a remarkable book.
August 29, 2016
What was it like to be a world class world record holder and be manipulated by your Government. A Government that controlled every day of your life and your very existence. What happens when you fall out of favor and exiled within your own Country. This is a great read about the Man Zatopek and the history of Czechoslovakia.
January 1, 2018
袣芯谐邪褌芯 薪褟屑邪褕 褋懈谢懈 写邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈褕, 褍胁械谢懈褔懈 褋泻芯褉芯褋褌褌邪:
袙 褋锌芯褉褌邪 袝屑懈谢 芯褋褌邪胁褟 褟褉泻邪 写懈褉褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 袪懈褔邪褉写 袗褋泻褍懈褌 锌褉芯褋谢械写褟胁邪 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯 - 芯褌 褉邪薪薪懈褌械 屑褍 谐芯写懈薪懈, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 屑邪谢泻芯 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褌懈褔邪, 锌褉械蟹 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁械薪懈褌械 屑褍 褌褉械薪懈褉芯胁泻懈, 懈 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈械 褋谢械写 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈械, 锌芯斜械写邪 褋谢械写 锌芯斜械写邪. 效械褏褗褌 锌褉邪胁懈 褎械薪芯屑械薪邪谢薪懈 薪械褖邪 懈 谐褍斜懈 泻褉邪泄薪芯 褉褟写泻芯, 邪 薪邪 芯谢懈屑锌懈邪写邪褌邪 胁 啸械谢蟹懈薪泻懈 锌褉械蟹 1952 谐. 懈蟹胁褗褉褕胁邪 薪械屑懈褋谢懈屑芯褌芯 鈥� 锌械褔械谢懈 蟹谢邪褌薪懈 屑械写邪谢懈 薪邪 5000, 10 000 屑 懈 胁 屑邪褉邪褌芯薪邪鈥� 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 写芯褋械谐邪 薪械 褋械 械 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪胁邪谢. 效械褌懈褉懈 谐芯写懈薪懈 锌芯-褉邪薪芯, 胁 袥芯薪写芯薪, 锌械褔械谢懈 蟹谢邪褌芯褌芯 薪邪 10 000 屑械褌褉邪 懈 褋褉械斜褉芯褌芯 薪邪 5000, 邪 胁 褌芯蟹懈 锌械褉懈芯写 懈 锌芯-褉邪薪芯 锌械褔械谢懈 芯斜褖芯 写械褋械褌泻懈 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈褟 薪邪 写褗谢谐懈 写懈褋褌邪薪褑懈懈. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 薪懈泻芯泄 薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 谐芯 锌芯斜械写懈.
袠蟹写邪褌械谢褋褌胁芯 袙邪泻芯薪
袙 褋锌芯褉褌邪 袝屑懈谢 芯褋褌邪胁褟 褟褉泻邪 写懈褉褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 袪懈褔邪褉写 袗褋泻褍懈褌 锌褉芯褋谢械写褟胁邪 锌芯写褉芯斜薪芯 - 芯褌 褉邪薪薪懈褌械 屑褍 谐芯写懈薪懈, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 屑邪谢泻芯 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褌懈褔邪, 锌褉械蟹 褍斜懈泄褋褌胁械薪懈褌械 屑褍 褌褉械薪懈褉芯胁泻懈, 懈 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈械 褋谢械写 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈械, 锌芯斜械写邪 褋谢械写 锌芯斜械写邪. 效械褏褗褌 锌褉邪胁懈 褎械薪芯屑械薪邪谢薪懈 薪械褖邪 懈 谐褍斜懈 泻褉邪泄薪芯 褉褟写泻芯, 邪 薪邪 芯谢懈屑锌懈邪写邪褌邪 胁 啸械谢蟹懈薪泻懈 锌褉械蟹 1952 谐. 懈蟹胁褗褉褕胁邪 薪械屑懈褋谢懈屑芯褌芯 鈥� 锌械褔械谢懈 蟹谢邪褌薪懈 屑械写邪谢懈 薪邪 5000, 10 000 屑 懈 胁 屑邪褉邪褌芯薪邪鈥� 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 写芯褋械谐邪 薪械 褋械 械 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪胁邪谢. 效械褌懈褉懈 谐芯写懈薪懈 锌芯-褉邪薪芯, 胁 袥芯薪写芯薪, 锌械褔械谢懈 蟹谢邪褌芯褌芯 薪邪 10 000 屑械褌褉邪 懈 褋褉械斜褉芯褌芯 薪邪 5000, 邪 胁 褌芯蟹懈 锌械褉懈芯写 懈 锌芯-褉邪薪芯 锌械褔械谢懈 芯斜褖芯 写械褋械褌泻懈 褋褗褋褌械蟹邪薪懈褟 薪邪 写褗谢谐懈 写懈褋褌邪薪褑懈懈. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 薪懈泻芯泄 薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 谐芯 锌芯斜械写懈.
袠蟹写邪褌械谢褋褌胁芯 袙邪泻芯薪
October 20, 2018
袝写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖懈褌械 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋邪 屑懈 锌芯锌邪写邪谢懈. 袠褋褌懈薪褋泻懈 胁写褗褏薪芯胁褟胁邪褖 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹.
August 17, 2024
Meu her贸i. Gigantesco. Uma vida extraordin谩ria que merece filme, s茅rie, TUDO.
January 23, 2025
I was expecting more adrenalin. It's a problem of my expectations rather than the book itself. Still, the way it faded away in the end was kind of sad, albeit human. The glory years of Emil Zatopek are already behind us, all his records (as everyone else's) shattered except for the 3 Olympic gold medals in a row (kuddos to Sifan Hassan for being close on that record). I wish the book climaxed with this peak record. Don't get me wrong, the post athletic years and cold war involvement were as challenging as his youth, if not more. I would've began with that. The book is well documented, my childhood spent under a communist regime can confirm that the cold war details, environment and author's understanding are very clear.
"When you can't run anymore, that's when you have to start."
"When you can't run anymore, that's when you have to start."
January 25, 2018
袟邪 屑薪芯谐芯 泻薪懈谐懈 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 泻邪卸械, 褔械 褋邪 "胁写褗褏芯胁褟胁邪褖懈", 薪芯 蟹邪 屑邪谢泻芯 褌芯胁邪 胁邪卸懈 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 械写薪芯蟹薪邪褔薪芯. 袨褋胁械薪 褔懈褋褌芯 褋锌芯褉褌薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻, 邪胁褌芯褉褗褌, 胁褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 械 邪薪谐谢懈褔邪薪懈薪, 锌褉械写邪胁邪 锌芯 屑薪芯谐芯 写芯褋褌褗锌械薪, 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉械薪, 薪芯 懈 写芯褋褌芯胁械褉械薪 懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈褔械褋泻懈 邪写械泻胁邪褌械薪 薪邪褔懈薪 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈褌械 褋 锌芯谢懈褌懈褔械褋泻懈褟 褉械卸懈屑 胁 效械褏芯褋谢芯胁邪泻懈褟.
袟邪写褗谢卸懈褌械谢薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪 懈 蟹邪 褋锌芯褉褌懈褋褌懈, 懈 蟹邪 褋锌芯褉褌薪懈 褎械薪芯胁械, 懈 蟹邪 谢褞斜懈褌械谢懈 薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪
袟邪写褗谢卸懈褌械谢薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪 懈 蟹邪 褋锌芯褉褌懈褋褌懈, 懈 蟹邪 褋锌芯褉褌薪懈 褎械薪芯胁械, 懈 蟹邪 谢褞斜懈褌械谢懈 薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪
January 23, 2020
袧械 褋褗屑 芯褌 褏芯褉邪褌邪, 褍胁谢械褔械薪懈 芯褌 斜褟谐邪薪械褌芯 泻邪褌芯 褋锌芯褉褌. 小褗褋 褋锌芯褉褌邪 泻邪褌芯 褑褟谢芯 褋屑械 薪邪 袙懈械. 袠 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈懈褌械 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 褋邪 屑懈 写芯褋褌邪 写芯褋泻褍褔邪胁邪褖懈.
袧芯...
袙懈薪邪谐懈 懈屑邪 械写薪芯 薪芯.
袟袗 锌褗褉胁懈 锌褗褌 褔褍褏 (锌褉芯褔械褌芯褏) 懈屑械褌芯 薪邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 芯褌 褋褌邪褌懈褟褌邪 薪邪 袠胁芯 袠胁邪薪芯胁. 袝写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-谢褞斜懈屑懈褌械 屑懈 薪械谐芯胁懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 锌芯 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌, 懈 械写薪邪 芯褌 写胁械褌械 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 屑懈 薪邪褋褗谢蟹褟胁邪褌 芯褔懈褌械 芯褖械 锌褉械写懈 写邪 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪 写邪 褋懈 谐芯 锌褉械锌褉芯褔懈褌邪屑. 袥懈褔薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 褌芯蟹懈 谐芯谢褟屑 斜械谐邪褔, 薪芯 懈 谐芯谢褟屑 褔芯胁械泻 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁写褗褏薪芯胁械薪懈械. 袧褟屑邪 泻邪泻 褔芯胁械泻 写邪 薪械 谐芯 芯斜懈泻薪械.
"袛薪械褋 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褖械 褍屑褉械屑 锌芯 屑邪谢泻芯" 械 芯褌 泻薪懈谐懈褌械, 泻芯懈褌芯 芯褖械 褋 锌褗褉胁懈褌械 懈蟹褉械褔械薪懈褟 锌褉懈胁谢懈褔邪褌 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械褌芯 懈 褌械 泻邪褉邪褌 写邪 蟹邪褉械卸械褕 胁褋懈褔泻芯 写褉褍谐芯. 袧邪锌懈褋邪薪邪 锌芯 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 褌芯锌褗谢 薪邪褔懈薪, 褍褋械褖邪褕 褍胁邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 懈 胁褗蟹褏懈褌邪褌邪 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪, 泻芯泄褌芯 卸械谢邪械 写邪 薪懈 褉邪蟹泻褉懈械 效芯胁械泻邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻, 蟹邪 写邪 屑芯卸械 写邪 谐芯 芯锌芯蟹薪邪械屑.
袠 邪泻芯 褉邪蟹写械谢懈屑 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟褌邪 薪邪 写胁械 褔邪褋褌懈, 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 芯褌褉邪蟹褟胁邪 褍褋锌械褏懈褌械 薪邪 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 芯褌 斜械写薪芯 写械褌械 懈蟹褉邪褋褌胁邪 胁 斜械蟹褋锌芯褉械薪 褕邪屑锌懈芯薪. 袧芯 褕邪屑锌懈芯薪, 薪邪 泻芯谐芯褌芯 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋械 胁褗蟹褏懈褖邪胁邪褌 懈 芯斜懈褔邪褌 蟹邪褉邪写懈 写芯斜褉芯褌邪褌邪 懈 芯褌泻褉懈褌芯褋褌褌邪 屑褍 泻褗屑 褏芯褉邪褌邪. 孝芯谢泻芯胁邪 胁写褗褏薪芯胁褟胁邪褖邪 械, 褔械 胁 械写懈薪 屑芯屑械薪褌 邪褏邪 写邪 褋械 蟹邪 锌懈褌邪褕 写邪谢懈 写邪 薪械 懈蟹谢械蟹械褕 写邪 锌芯褌懈褔邪褕.
袙褌芯褉邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 械 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸 褋械 械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢 胁 薪械薪褍卸械薪 薪邪 胁谢邪褋褌褌邪 (泻芯褟褌芯 写芯 褋泻芯褉芯 薪械 褋械 械 褋胁械薪懈谢邪 写邪 懈蟹锌芯谢蟹胁邪 褍褋锌械褏懈褌械 屑褍 胁 褋胁芯褟褌邪 锌褉芯锌邪谐邪薪写邪). 袚芯写懈薪懈 薪邪 懈蟹芯谢邪褑懈褟, 薪邪 芯褌褔褍卸写械薪懈械 懈 蟹邪斜褉邪胁邪. 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯谐芯褌芯 褑褟谢 褋胁褟褌 褍胁邪卸邪胁邪 懈 锌褉懈胁械褌褋褌胁邪, 械 芯褌褉懈褌薪邪褌 芯褌 褋胁芯懈褌械. 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 锌褉械写懈 褌芯胁邪 械 褌褗褉褋械薪 芯褌 胁褋械泻懈, 褋械谐邪 械 芯褌斜褟谐胁邪 芯褌 胁褋械泻懈 (褋 懈蟹泻谢褞褔械薪懈械 薪邪 薪邪泄-斜谢懈蟹泻懈褌械 屑褍 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈)
袧邪泻褉邪褟 蟹邪褌胁芯褉懈褏 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褋 谢械泻芯 薪邪褋褗谢蟹械薪懈 芯褔懈, 薪芯 懈 褋 屑薪芯谐芯 谐芯谢褟屑芯 褍胁邪卸械薪懈械 泻褗屑 胁械谢懈泻懈褟 袟邪褌芯锌械泻.
袠 泻邪泻褌芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪 薪邪 褌褉懈斜褍薪懈褌械 胁 啸械谢蟹懈薪泻懈 胁 芯薪蟹懈 蟹薪邪屑械薪懈褌 写械薪 懈 薪邪 屑械薪 屑懈 褋械 懈写褋邪 芯褌 胁褗褌褉械
"袟邪-孝芯-袩械泻, 袟邪-孝芯-袩械褌, 小邪褌褍 袩械泻邪"
袧芯...
袙懈薪邪谐懈 懈屑邪 械写薪芯 薪芯.
袟袗 锌褗褉胁懈 锌褗褌 褔褍褏 (锌褉芯褔械褌芯褏) 懈屑械褌芯 薪邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 芯褌 褋褌邪褌懈褟褌邪 薪邪 袠胁芯 袠胁邪薪芯胁. 袝写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-谢褞斜懈屑懈褌械 屑懈 薪械谐芯胁懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 锌芯 锌褉懈薪褑懈锌, 懈 械写薪邪 芯褌 写胁械褌械 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 屑懈 薪邪褋褗谢蟹褟胁邪褌 芯褔懈褌械 芯褖械 锌褉械写懈 写邪 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪 写邪 褋懈 谐芯 锌褉械锌褉芯褔懈褌邪屑. 袥懈褔薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 褌芯蟹懈 谐芯谢褟屑 斜械谐邪褔, 薪芯 懈 谐芯谢褟屑 褔芯胁械泻 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁写褗褏薪芯胁械薪懈械. 袧褟屑邪 泻邪泻 褔芯胁械泻 写邪 薪械 谐芯 芯斜懈泻薪械.
"袛薪械褋 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褖械 褍屑褉械屑 锌芯 屑邪谢泻芯" 械 芯褌 泻薪懈谐懈褌械, 泻芯懈褌芯 芯褖械 褋 锌褗褉胁懈褌械 懈蟹褉械褔械薪懈褟 锌褉懈胁谢懈褔邪褌 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械褌芯 懈 褌械 泻邪褉邪褌 写邪 蟹邪褉械卸械褕 胁褋懈褔泻芯 写褉褍谐芯. 袧邪锌懈褋邪薪邪 锌芯 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 褌芯锌褗谢 薪邪褔懈薪, 褍褋械褖邪褕 褍胁邪卸械薪懈械褌芯 懈 胁褗蟹褏懈褌邪褌邪 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪, 泻芯泄褌芯 卸械谢邪械 写邪 薪懈 褉邪蟹泻褉懈械 效芯胁械泻邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻, 蟹邪 写邪 屑芯卸械 写邪 谐芯 芯锌芯蟹薪邪械屑.
袠 邪泻芯 褉邪蟹写械谢懈屑 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟褌邪 薪邪 写胁械 褔邪褋褌懈, 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 芯褌褉邪蟹褟胁邪 褍褋锌械褏懈褌械 薪邪 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 芯褌 斜械写薪芯 写械褌械 懈蟹褉邪褋褌胁邪 胁 斜械蟹褋锌芯褉械薪 褕邪屑锌懈芯薪. 袧芯 褕邪屑锌懈芯薪, 薪邪 泻芯谐芯褌芯 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋械 胁褗蟹褏懈褖邪胁邪褌 懈 芯斜懈褔邪褌 蟹邪褉邪写懈 写芯斜褉芯褌邪褌邪 懈 芯褌泻褉懈褌芯褋褌褌邪 屑褍 泻褗屑 褏芯褉邪褌邪. 孝芯谢泻芯胁邪 胁写褗褏薪芯胁褟胁邪褖邪 械, 褔械 胁 械写懈薪 屑芯屑械薪褌 邪褏邪 写邪 褋械 蟹邪 锌懈褌邪褕 写邪谢懈 写邪 薪械 懈蟹谢械蟹械褕 写邪 锌芯褌懈褔邪褕.
袙褌芯褉邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 械 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸 褋械 械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢 胁 薪械薪褍卸械薪 薪邪 胁谢邪褋褌褌邪 (泻芯褟褌芯 写芯 褋泻芯褉芯 薪械 褋械 械 褋胁械薪懈谢邪 写邪 懈蟹锌芯谢蟹胁邪 褍褋锌械褏懈褌械 屑褍 胁 褋胁芯褟褌邪 锌褉芯锌邪谐邪薪写邪). 袚芯写懈薪懈 薪邪 懈蟹芯谢邪褑懈褟, 薪邪 芯褌褔褍卸写械薪懈械 懈 蟹邪斜褉邪胁邪. 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯谐芯褌芯 褑褟谢 褋胁褟褌 褍胁邪卸邪胁邪 懈 锌褉懈胁械褌褋褌胁邪, 械 芯褌褉懈褌薪邪褌 芯褌 褋胁芯懈褌械. 袝屑懈谢, 泻芯泄褌芯 锌褉械写懈 褌芯胁邪 械 褌褗褉褋械薪 芯褌 胁褋械泻懈, 褋械谐邪 械 芯褌斜褟谐胁邪 芯褌 胁褋械泻懈 (褋 懈蟹泻谢褞褔械薪懈械 薪邪 薪邪泄-斜谢懈蟹泻懈褌械 屑褍 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈)
袧邪泻褉邪褟 蟹邪褌胁芯褉懈褏 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褋 谢械泻芯 薪邪褋褗谢蟹械薪懈 芯褔懈, 薪芯 懈 褋 屑薪芯谐芯 谐芯谢褟屑芯 褍胁邪卸械薪懈械 泻褗屑 胁械谢懈泻懈褟 袟邪褌芯锌械泻.
袠 泻邪泻褌芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪 薪邪 褌褉懈斜褍薪懈褌械 胁 啸械谢蟹懈薪泻懈 胁 芯薪蟹懈 蟹薪邪屑械薪懈褌 写械薪 懈 薪邪 屑械薪 屑懈 褋械 懈写褋邪 芯褌 胁褗褌褉械
"袟邪-孝芯-袩械泻, 袟邪-孝芯-袩械褌, 小邪褌褍 袩械泻邪"
September 11, 2018
A decent enough biography of the great Emil Z谩topek who won the gold medals at 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres and the marathon at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. It's a well researched volume and the author has travelled to get some key interviews but I could have probably done with a bit less of the commie bashing - one almost expected Askwith to start ranting about 'pinkos' such is the facile way he describes the admittedly pretty venal Czechoslovak regime. How so far Z谩topek collaborated with or resisted totalitarianism is interesting but the author debates back and forth on this ad nauseam when a few pages of the evidence for and against would have sufficed. It's good on the running of course - Z谩topek pioneered the use of interval training and has to be pound for pound one of the greatest athletes of all time at any distance - but I felt the writing was prosaic bordering on the simplistic - as if the publisher had told the author to avoid making the text too authoritative.
June 22, 2016
鈥淓very running enthusiast over a certain age knows something about Z谩topek 鈥� or thinks they do. But much of it is no more than hearsay: legends and half-truths endlessly recycled and re-embroidered. Many of the most famous tales are simply false. Even those of us who idolize him 鈥� who see him, as I do, as a kind of patron saint of running 鈥� are liable to find, on closer inspection, that we know far less about him than we think鈥t is the human side of Z谩topek鈥檚 story that is still capable of brightening and energizing lives, six decades after his prime and a decade and a half after his death. That is the story that matters.鈥�
November 10, 2023
Not to be dramatic but this book transformed my life. If you love running or if you hate running but love the power of the human spirit, you must read. His running career is crazy inspiring and so is his character. Since reading, I sometimes ask myself 鈥淲hat would Emil do?鈥� whilst running or in my interactions with other people. I love him. I also love his wife, Dana. What a power couple.
August 31, 2021
What a story, what a champ.
Should come with a health warning though ... far too motivational and fooled me into thinking I could do way more running than I'm able to ;)
"If you cannot run any more ... run faster"
Should come with a health warning though ... far too motivational and fooled me into thinking I could do way more running than I'm able to ;)
"If you cannot run any more ... run faster"
August 26, 2016
Life is the most precious thing we have, and even though it just treated us badly, we live on; and we can find a corner where we will feel comfortable even in a table drawer.
December 3, 2017
"袝屑懈谢 斜械褕械 卸懈胁邪 谢械谐械薪写邪. 袗 械写薪邪 谢械谐械薪写邪 薪懈泻芯谐邪 薪械 褍屑懈褉邪."
袩械褌 蟹胁械蟹写懈 褋邪 屑邪谢泻邪 芯褑械薪泻邪 蟹邪 褌芯蟹懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟.
袩械褌 蟹胁械蟹写懈 褋邪 屑邪谢泻邪 芯褑械薪泻邪 蟹邪 褌芯蟹懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟.
May 17, 2023
I too dabble in a little bit of running, a non-competitive 10k here and there every so often, but I came across Zatopek in some compilation of motivational quotes ["When you can't keep going, Go Faster"]. Once I started reading up on this "running hobby" I had picked up in the pandemic, I saw him being attributed as the greatest of all times. Further inquiry led me to this lone English biography of a sporting legend relatively unknown for all his achievements. He remains, to this day the only athlete to win the 5,000m, 10,000m and the Marathon in the same Olympics (Hannes Kolehmainen of Finland remains the only other athlete to win all three medals, but it took him more than one Olympics to do so.)
Given such towering achievement one would assume the book would crescendo up this event before petering out with Zatopek running into the inevitable sunset. But, with the life that this man lived, we reach this high point by a third of the book itself! For all who have heard of him (again, the number is not as many as it should be) know that his life is intertwined with a post-WWII Czechoslovakia. Prague Spring and its demise, followed by another brutal regime affected his life. He was at once both a global celebrity and a practical nobody. A list of achievements such as his would surely invoke hubris in the best of us. If not that, the rapid spiral into obscurity would certainly cause ruination. But not for Zatopek. In this, as the author who is certainly an ardent fan notes, Zatopek truly emerges through.
When he ran at the highest levels of the sport, audiences would clamor to see him, they claimed him as one of their own. His humble beginnings and a strained running style made him a people's champion. Much later when he dealt with exigencies of living in an oppressive regime, he displayed another self that most of us, albeit reluctantly, relate to- "looking-the-other-way".
It panged his conscious, like it does for all conscientious men who live through such hard times. Sitting in the cozy armchairs of conformity, we would do well in according this champion a benefit of doubt. Of course, in matters such as these, I concede my opinions to those close to him - his friends, the victims of the regime and his countrymen.
But for me and several others as this British biographer points out he continues to represent something greater.
I once read an article by a sports journalist (I am almost certain, such flair must have been Suresh Menon's pen) about Virat Kohli. Kohli, deservingly is considered one of the greatest cricketers of all times. Kohli, if he appears any shorter in stature, seems so because succeeds two towering figures of Indian Cricket- MS Dhoni and Tendulkar- who still capture the public imagination. Menon (?) writes about an anecdote where a Pakistani Fan (or was it an analyst? I can't seem to find the article) accuses him and us Indians, of not "valuing Kohli enough". "Had he been in Pakistan", the accusation continues, "we would have never hated him for his batting slump."
Menon(?) concludes, making his point- "Heroes are loved more by their away-fans, than by those back home"
This most certainly held true during a large part of Zatopek's life and having read this truly intimate biography one is also bound to feel a certain proximity to this 'everyman champion', who despite his failings, truly grew to fit the title and eventually in his tiring negotiations with the clock, the track, life, politics and eventually time expanded the definition of the word.
Given such towering achievement one would assume the book would crescendo up this event before petering out with Zatopek running into the inevitable sunset. But, with the life that this man lived, we reach this high point by a third of the book itself! For all who have heard of him (again, the number is not as many as it should be) know that his life is intertwined with a post-WWII Czechoslovakia. Prague Spring and its demise, followed by another brutal regime affected his life. He was at once both a global celebrity and a practical nobody. A list of achievements such as his would surely invoke hubris in the best of us. If not that, the rapid spiral into obscurity would certainly cause ruination. But not for Zatopek. In this, as the author who is certainly an ardent fan notes, Zatopek truly emerges through.
When he ran at the highest levels of the sport, audiences would clamor to see him, they claimed him as one of their own. His humble beginnings and a strained running style made him a people's champion. Much later when he dealt with exigencies of living in an oppressive regime, he displayed another self that most of us, albeit reluctantly, relate to- "looking-the-other-way".
It panged his conscious, like it does for all conscientious men who live through such hard times. Sitting in the cozy armchairs of conformity, we would do well in according this champion a benefit of doubt. Of course, in matters such as these, I concede my opinions to those close to him - his friends, the victims of the regime and his countrymen.
But for me and several others as this British biographer points out he continues to represent something greater.
I once read an article by a sports journalist (I am almost certain, such flair must have been Suresh Menon's pen) about Virat Kohli. Kohli, deservingly is considered one of the greatest cricketers of all times. Kohli, if he appears any shorter in stature, seems so because succeeds two towering figures of Indian Cricket- MS Dhoni and Tendulkar- who still capture the public imagination. Menon (?) writes about an anecdote where a Pakistani Fan (or was it an analyst? I can't seem to find the article) accuses him and us Indians, of not "valuing Kohli enough". "Had he been in Pakistan", the accusation continues, "we would have never hated him for his batting slump."
Menon(?) concludes, making his point- "Heroes are loved more by their away-fans, than by those back home"
This most certainly held true during a large part of Zatopek's life and having read this truly intimate biography one is also bound to feel a certain proximity to this 'everyman champion', who despite his failings, truly grew to fit the title and eventually in his tiring negotiations with the clock, the track, life, politics and eventually time expanded the definition of the word.
October 15, 2018
"That was the thing about Emil. He was a romantic: the most romantic of all runners. He looked for romance not just in love, but in friendship; and not just in friendship, but in sport. He took something mundane - "putting one foot in front of the other, as fast as possible, for as long as possible"(...) and made it into a thrilling adventure, a daring exploration, in which all were welcome to join him, of just how far a human being could reach. He could have just been a runner who won races. Instead, he was a runner who loved life."
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袥懈褔懈 褋懈, 褔械 械 泻薪懈谐邪, 锌懈褋邪薪邪 芯褌 褔芯胁械泻, 泻芯泄褌芯 褋 谐芯写懈薪懈 械 锌褉懈械屑邪谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 泻邪褌芯 褋胁芯泄 谢懈褔械薪 谐械褉芯泄.
袛邪 褟 锌褉芯褔械褌邪, 屑械 锌褉懈胁谢械褔械 泻褉邪褋懈胁芯褌芯, 褋褗写斜芯胁薪芯褌芯, 懈蟹胁褗薪屑械褉薪芯褌芯 胁 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 锌褉芯褔褍褌懈褟 斜械谐邪褔 - 褌褉懈褌械 蟹谢邪褌薪懈 屑械写邪谢邪 芯褌 袨谢懈屑锌懈邪写邪褌邪 胁 啸械谢蟹懈薪泻懈, 褋谢褍褔懈谢懈 褋械 胁 褉邪蟹褋褌芯褟薪懈械 芯褌 薪褟泻芯谢泻芯 写薪懈 (写芯泻邪褌芯 薪邪 褋褗褖邪褌邪 袨谢懈屑锌懈邪写邪 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪褌邪 屑褍 袛邪薪邪 褋褗褖芯 锌械褔械谢懈 蟹谢邪褌械薪 屑械写邪谢). 袥褞斜芯胁薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 褋 袛邪薪邪 (褉芯写械薪懈 薪邪 械写懈薪 懈 褋褗褖懈 写械薪, 胁 械写薪邪 懈 褋褗褖邪 谐芯写懈薪邪 - 邪 邪蟹 胁褋械 褋懈 褍屑懈褉邪屑 蟹邪 褌邪泻懈胁邪 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯褋褌懈). 袞械褋褌芯胁械褌械 薪邪 芯斜懈褔 泻褗屑 褋褗锌械褉薪懈褑懈褌械 胁 斜褟谐邪薪械褌芯; 锌褉懈褟褌械谢褋褌胁邪褌邪; 斜芯褏械屑褋泻邪褌邪 卸懈谢泻邪, 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯褌芯 蟹邪 褏褍屑芯褉.
袧芯 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 薪邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 械 懈 褋褗屑薪械薪懈褟褌邪 写邪谢懈 械 斜懈谢 邪谐械薪褌 薪邪 泻芯屑褍薪懈褋褌懈褔械褋泻懈褌械 褋谢褍卸斜懈, 褍褔邪褋褌懈械褌芯 胁 袩褉邪卸泻邪褌邪 锌褉芯谢械褌 懈 锌褍斜谢懈褔薪懈褌械 芯褌褉懈褔邪薪懈褟 胁锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈褟, 屑邪谢泻懈褌械 懈谢懈 锌芯-谐芯谢械屑懈褌械 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪懈 锌褉械写邪褌械谢褋褌胁邪, 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪芯褌芯 屑褍 懈蟹谐薪邪薪懈械 胁 锌褉芯胁懈薪褑懈褟褌邪, 写邪谢械褔 芯褌 袛邪薪邪, 写邪谢械褔 芯褌 褋锌芯褉褌邪.
袪懈褔邪褉写 袗褋泻褍懈褌 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪 褋 屑薪芯谐芯 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪薪械.
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袥懈褔懈 褋懈, 褔械 械 泻薪懈谐邪, 锌懈褋邪薪邪 芯褌 褔芯胁械泻, 泻芯泄褌芯 褋 谐芯写懈薪懈 械 锌褉懈械屑邪谢 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 泻邪褌芯 褋胁芯泄 谢懈褔械薪 谐械褉芯泄.
袛邪 褟 锌褉芯褔械褌邪, 屑械 锌褉懈胁谢械褔械 泻褉邪褋懈胁芯褌芯, 褋褗写斜芯胁薪芯褌芯, 懈蟹胁褗薪屑械褉薪芯褌芯 胁 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 锌褉芯褔褍褌懈褟 斜械谐邪褔 - 褌褉懈褌械 蟹谢邪褌薪懈 屑械写邪谢邪 芯褌 袨谢懈屑锌懈邪写邪褌邪 胁 啸械谢蟹懈薪泻懈, 褋谢褍褔懈谢懈 褋械 胁 褉邪蟹褋褌芯褟薪懈械 芯褌 薪褟泻芯谢泻芯 写薪懈 (写芯泻邪褌芯 薪邪 褋褗褖邪褌邪 袨谢懈屑锌懈邪写邪 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪褌邪 屑褍 袛邪薪邪 褋褗褖芯 锌械褔械谢懈 蟹谢邪褌械薪 屑械写邪谢). 袥褞斜芯胁薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 褋 袛邪薪邪 (褉芯写械薪懈 薪邪 械写懈薪 懈 褋褗褖懈 写械薪, 胁 械写薪邪 懈 褋褗褖邪 谐芯写懈薪邪 - 邪 邪蟹 胁褋械 褋懈 褍屑懈褉邪屑 蟹邪 褌邪泻懈胁邪 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯褋褌懈). 袞械褋褌芯胁械褌械 薪邪 芯斜懈褔 泻褗屑 褋褗锌械褉薪懈褑懈褌械 胁 斜褟谐邪薪械褌芯; 锌褉懈褟褌械谢褋褌胁邪褌邪; 斜芯褏械屑褋泻邪褌邪 卸懈谢泻邪, 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯褌芯 蟹邪 褏褍屑芯褉.
袧芯 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 薪邪 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 械 懈 褋褗屑薪械薪懈褟褌邪 写邪谢懈 械 斜懈谢 邪谐械薪褌 薪邪 泻芯屑褍薪懈褋褌懈褔械褋泻懈褌械 褋谢褍卸斜懈, 褍褔邪褋褌懈械褌芯 胁 袩褉邪卸泻邪褌邪 锌褉芯谢械褌 懈 锌褍斜谢懈褔薪懈褌械 芯褌褉懈褔邪薪懈褟 胁锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈褟, 屑邪谢泻懈褌械 懈谢懈 锌芯-谐芯谢械屑懈褌械 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪懈 锌褉械写邪褌械谢褋褌胁邪, 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪芯褌芯 屑褍 懈蟹谐薪邪薪懈械 胁 锌褉芯胁懈薪褑懈褟褌邪, 写邪谢械褔 芯褌 袛邪薪邪, 写邪谢械褔 芯褌 褋锌芯褉褌邪.
袪懈褔邪褉写 袗褋泻褍懈褌 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪 褋 屑薪芯谐芯 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪薪械.
December 9, 2018
Emil was far from perfect, but he had a good crack at it. Beautifully written, a great insight into a great man. Inspirational, moving, wonderful... I laughed, I cried. Also, he's right about the beer.
February 2, 2022
A very interesting look into the life of the Zatopek. The book does a great job of digging into who he really was and the challenges that were unique to his worldwide popularity as a runner and his role in a communist regime.
September 16, 2024
What a wonderful read. I really loved learning about who Emil Z谩topek was as a person and not just an athlete, and about how the bleak history of his country changed him. Emil seemed to be the embodiment of inspiration, of what running can mean, of what a good person looks like, of what war can do to a man.
I will treasure the experience of reading this book always, as I was equal parts emboldened to be a better runner and mournful of the loss of such an incredible person. Today we die a little鈥攚hat a mantra. Thank you, Emil Z谩topek.
I will treasure the experience of reading this book always, as I was equal parts emboldened to be a better runner and mournful of the loss of such an incredible person. Today we die a little鈥攚hat a mantra. Thank you, Emil Z谩topek.
September 20, 2019
This is a beautiful telling of an incredible story.
April 16, 2021
Wasn鈥檛 too sure if I鈥檇 enjoy this one but ending up loving it. Thanks for sending me this, mother x
September 27, 2020
A book of 2 halves. Really enjoyed both and sad at how things can be forgotten so quickly and how fame can really bring about opinions from everyone.
December 31, 2019
For a decade (1940-1950) no man dominated track events like Emil Zatopek. More interestingly was how he did it.
Zatopek didn't have the 'eye of the tiger' as he moved around during warm-ups. He gave his competitors a pat on the back and an encouraging word. He was a friend to all athletes and runners - a true ambassador. "Great is the victory, but greater still is the friendship"- Zatopek
Once the gun sounded make no mistake, Zatopek was a savage competitor and his physical training preparation was equally savage.
He had a simple approach to training. Running at race pace or goal pace of intervals clocking daily distances of 10-20 miles. But this wasn't all. He developed off track workouts that included running in military boots and also carrying his equally talented wife up hills.
A well-told story on an incredible athlete.
Zatopek didn't have the 'eye of the tiger' as he moved around during warm-ups. He gave his competitors a pat on the back and an encouraging word. He was a friend to all athletes and runners - a true ambassador. "Great is the victory, but greater still is the friendship"- Zatopek
Once the gun sounded make no mistake, Zatopek was a savage competitor and his physical training preparation was equally savage.
He had a simple approach to training. Running at race pace or goal pace of intervals clocking daily distances of 10-20 miles. But this wasn't all. He developed off track workouts that included running in military boots and also carrying his equally talented wife up hills.
A well-told story on an incredible athlete.
July 1, 2018
"袠屑械褌芯 袟邪褌芯锌械泻 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪 胁 褋懈薪芯薪懈屑 薪邪 锌芯薪褟褌懈褟褌邪 褋泻芯褉芯褋褌, 懈蟹写褉褗卸谢懈胁芯褋褌, 械褎械泻褌懈胁薪芯褋褌, 薪邪写械卸写薪芯褋褌, 斜芯械薪 写褍褏 懈 褋懈谢邪 薪邪 胁芯谢褟褌邪. 袧械 斜懈褏 褋械 褍褔褍写懈谢, 邪泻芯 械写懈薪 写械薪 谐芯 胁懈写懈屑 胁 褉械褔薪懈褑懈褌械 泻邪褌芯 薪邪褉懈褑邪褌械谢薪芯 蟹邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褌械蟹懈 褌械褉屑懈薪懈."
袨褌邪泻邪褉 袦邪褕械泻
袨褌邪泻邪褉 袦邪褕械泻
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