Review: Today We Die A Little -- The Inimitable Emil Zatopek; The Greatest Olympic Runner of All Time

My summer reading has started with Richard Askwith new biography of Emil Zatopek, the Czech Olympian and national hero. Although relatively unknown today, Zatopek was an Olympic hero who competed in 1948 London games, the 1952 Helsinki Games and the 1956 Melbourne Games. In the Helsinki Games he became the first and only man to win the 5000m, the 10,000m and the marathon. He also was the first man to break 29 minutes for 10k and held the world record at 5K too.

Besides his Olympic record, Zatopek was best known for his prodigious work capacity and the tortured look on his face when he ran. But the book also makes it clear, that Zatopek life was one filled with joy despite troubled times. His own life had ups and downs -- after being declared a national hero in the 50's -- Zatopek was isolated after he took the side of reformers in 1968.

Late in life, he returned to public life as Czechoslovakia became more and more open but he was distrusted by both reformers and hard line communists.

Reading about the life of Zatopek was a bit ironic during our Olympic Trials. Zatopek was a big believer in the Olympic mission which both valued peace among nations and also the comradery among athletes. As he returned to public life, Zatopek struggled with the influence of sponsorship and money. He felt the money took away from the formation of relationships between athletes from diverse backgrounds.

I strongly recommend this book.