Dana Zátopková
Encyclopedia
Dana Zátopková (ˈdana ˈzaːtopkovaː; née Ingrová ˈɪŋɡrovaː, born in Karviná
-Fryštát
, September 19, 1922) was a Czech
javelin throw
er. She won the gold medal for javelin in the 1952 Summer Olympics
(only an hour after her husband, Emil Zátopek
, won the 5000 m), and the silver medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics
. She was the European champion in 1954 and 1958. She also set a world record
in 1958 (55.73 m) when she was 35, making her the oldest woman to break one in an outdoor athletics event.
The couple were well known for their public banter. Once, when Emil attempted to take some credit for his wife's Olympic victory at her press conference, claiming that it was his victory in the 5 km run that had "inspired" her, she tartly responded, "Really? Okay, go inspire some other girl and see if she throws a javelin fifty meters!!"
Dana and Emil were the witnesses at the wedding ceremoney of Olympic gold medalists Olga Fikotová
and Harold Connolly
in Prague in 1957. Emil spoke to the Czechoslovak president Antonín Zápotocký
to request help in Olga getting a permit to marry Connolly. While it's not clear how much this helped, they surprisingly received a permit a few days later.
Karviná
Karviná is a city in Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic, on the Olza River. It is administrative center of Karviná District. Karviná lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia and is one of the most important coal mining centers in the Czech Republic. Together with neighboring...
-Fryštát
Fryštát
is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic, now administratively a part of the city of Karviná. Until 1948 it was a separate town. It lies on the Olza River, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia....
, September 19, 1922) was a Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
javelin throw
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
er. She won the gold medal for javelin in the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
(only an hour after her husband, Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
, won the 5000 m), and the silver medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. She was the European champion in 1954 and 1958. She also set a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in 1958 (55.73 m) when she was 35, making her the oldest woman to break one in an outdoor athletics event.
The couple were well known for their public banter. Once, when Emil attempted to take some credit for his wife's Olympic victory at her press conference, claiming that it was his victory in the 5 km run that had "inspired" her, she tartly responded, "Really? Okay, go inspire some other girl and see if she throws a javelin fifty meters!!"
Dana and Emil were the witnesses at the wedding ceremoney of Olympic gold medalists Olga Fikotová
Olga Fikotová
Olga Fikotová is a Czechoslovakian and later American athlete who is best known for winning gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in the discus and her romance across Cold War barriers with American hammer gold medalist Harold Connolly.A natural athlete, she represented Czechoslovakia at national...
and Harold Connolly
Harold Vincent Connolly
Harold Vincent "Hal" Connolly was an American athlete and hammer thrower from Somerville, Massachusetts. He won a gold medal in the hammer throw at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. During the course of his career, Connolly became the first American to throw more than 200 feet...
in Prague in 1957. Emil spoke to the Czechoslovak president Antonín Zápotocký
Antonín Zápotocký
Antonín Zápotocký was communist Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1953 and President of Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1957....
to request help in Olga getting a permit to marry Connolly. While it's not clear how much this helped, they surprisingly received a permit a few days later.
External links
- In-depth article from European Athletics