We look at some of the best performances of the 1950s in our series ‘Greatest Moments’ to commemorate AW’s 80th anniversary
Pioneer pion
American Parry O’Brien revolutionized bullet launch in 1951 when he used a method that saw him face the back of the circle before turning his right foot through 180 degrees and then released the shot. It did not take long to be known in the “O’Brien Glide” and helped him become the first man to launch 18.00m, in 1953.
Helsinki Hat-trick de Zatopek
Emil Zatopek almost did not reach the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. The initial flight that the Olympic team of his nations had to Finland was lost because he was defending his friend.
At that time, the nation knows as Czechoslovakia was under the communist government where the opponents of the revolution paid a expensive for their views. Zatopek’s teammate, Stanislav Jungwirth, had been imprisoned for political crimes and as a result they told the 1500M athlete that he was forbidden to travel to the Olympic Games. Upon hearing the news, Zatopek, the most famous member of the Czech team, refused to go.
He and Jungwirth finally made the trip, but taking such a position meant that something less than an outstanding Olympic success could come with a very heavy price.
In general, from Zatopek, however, Hey stood out and was a better than his goal in the 5000m and 10000 m victory, also won the marathon.
It was a hat-trick that had never made the leg before and almost surely will never be again.
In the 5000m, a late wave surpassed the opposition and Zatopek reached the line in an Olympic record of 14: 06.6, while the 10000m brought with them another Olympic record, 29: 17.0.
Then came the marathon. Zatopek had only decided to make his debut during the distance of 26.2 miles at the last minute, but, with the capacity of the crowd Chans in unison when he entered the stage, he crossed the line in another Olympic record, 2:23:03, winning.
Bannister advance
With what could be said that it is the most significant athletics performance of modern times, Roger Bannister created the story when he recorded 3: 59.4 to break the four -minute barrier in Iffley Road on May 6, 1954.
Aided by their training partners and pacemakers Chris Berdes and Chris Chataway, Bannister expanded the Everest of Athletics.
AWS The original report appeared in the May 15 edition in 1954 and was written by George Pallett, an international writer and British athletics of length who died in 1996 at the age of 88.
Pallett wrote: “Then, Everest of Athletics has been climbing, the sound barrier of the race has been penetrated. Roger Gilbert Bannister, a 25 -year -old medical student, may never find the panacea for all evil evils.
In the final stages of the race, Pallett continued: “An avalanche of humanity began to be seen from the stands when it was seen that Bannister withdrew and begins the last and long pull to the tape; a slight length of the rhythm, his arms promoting the maintenance of maintenance maintenance of maintenance maintaining maintaining the maintenance of the fatigue.”
Diane Leather Sub-Five Mile
Just 23 days after Roger Bannister’s subinuto mile, Diane Leather made a similar advance that she received much less cheers.
Running in the Midland championship in Birmingham, he recorded 4: 59.6 to become the first woman to cover the distance in less than five minutes. Given the female athletics status at that time, it may be a small surprise that is not a bigger name. It was not until 1967 that the world records of women of recognition of the IAAF First Fomen for the mile and it was only after the women ran the distance internationally.
Perry Barr Stadium was the stage of Leather’s historical feat, but it was clearly able to go much faster given its slightly erratic division or 68.8, 2: 27.00 and 3: 48.6.
The miraculous mile
The newly built Empire Stadium in Vancouver was the scene of a shock of heavy athletics at the British Empire Games and the Commonwealth of 1954 in Vancouver.
On August 7, Roger Bannister faced John Landy, who had replaced him as the Mile World record holder with an official time of 3:58.
Promoted as “the mile of the century”, then it would be known as “Milagro Mile”.
It was the Australian who led to the final stages, and looked around his left shoulder to verify where Banner was. Just when he did, English flew to win in a record time of the 3: 58.8 Commonwealth. Landy ended in 3: 59.6, marking the first time that the four -minute mile had broken the bone by two men in the same race.
Chataway gets the best kuts
Considered as perhaps the most exciting progress to have tasks in the British floor, Chris Chataway beat Vladimir Kuts in front of a large audience in White City around 5000m in October 1954. He won Chataway. BBC sports.
His time was a world record of 13: 51.6, but it was the victory of biting his nails in this London V Moscow party, seen by a television audience of 15 million, which captured everyone’s imagination.
The founder and editor of AW, Jimmy Green, wrote: “It is surprising how Kuts-Chaataway duel in White City stirred people who, in the past, have shown little or no interest in athletics.”
He added: “This shows how such races, and televisions of them can stimulate interest in our sport.”
Kuts would win the 5000m and 10000m at the Melbourne Olympic Games.
Pirie’s Record Break Summer
Gordon “Puff Puff” Pirie might not have won an international title, but it was one of the best remote corridors of Great Britain and enjoyed the summer of his life in 1956. The man who cools a race in the bank to concentrate, three career, career, career, career, career, career, career, career, career. Orpald the three -month space.
First, he defeated Vladimir Kuts (who finished second in the 5000m Olympic final that year) to hit 3.8 seconds of the 5000m record with a race of 13: 36.8. He continued to lower the 3000m record to 7: 55.5 and then 7: 52.7. He had established world records at 6 miles and the 4x1500m relay in 1953.
Cuthbert becomes the golden girl of Australia
Initially, Betty Cuthbert hoped to attend the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games as a spectator, after buying tickets for her to go and see. On the other hand, however, the then 18 -year -old was classified for the Australian team and became the local game star thanks to some impressive performances in six days full of events.
On November 26, he broke into the 100 -meter gold of women in a time of 11.5 before completing the double of Sprint four days later with 200 meters of victory in 23.4.
On December 1, it combined with Croker Norma, Fleur Melor and Shirley Strickland to win 4x100m in a world record of 44.65.
After the injury hindered his 1960 Olympic Games, Cuthbert announced his retirement, but his pause did not last long and, in Tokyo, four years later he became the first 400m female champion and the first woman to win gold medals at 100 m, 200m and 400m.
Brill recovers
After having finished the second burden in the last four years of the 3000 m Steepplecha of the Olympic men, Chris Berdes was determined to do it much better in Melbourne and played a sabbatical of his work with an oil company to concentrate on his preparations.
The movement was worth it while hitting gold, but was not exempt from controversy. The man who would co -confuse the London marathon was initially disqualified by an alleged blockade of Ernst Larsen from Norway, but launched an appeal and persuaded the other medalists of the race to support him.
Berba’s celebrations were less than reserved and, after a “liquid lunch” with the British press, he admitted to having been “blind drunk, totally Blotto” when he collected his medal in the upper step of the stage the next day.
Did you know?
Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna or Nigeria became the first black African to win an important championship title with high -jump gold in the British Empire Games and the 1954 Commonwealth.
