 Krzyszkowiak in 1960 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 August 1929 (1929-08-03) Wielichowo, Poland |
| Died | 24 March 2003 (2003-03-25) (aged 73) Warsaw, Poland |
Zdzisław Ludwik Krzyszkowiak (Polish pronunciation:[ˈzd͡ʑiswafˈkʂɨʂkɔvjak]; 3 August 1929 – 24 March 2003) was a Polishtrack and field athlete, winner of the3000 metre steeplechase at the1960 Summer Olympics.[1]
Born inWielichowo,Greater Poland Voivodeship, Krzyszkowiak won 13 Polish National Championship titles in long-distance and cross-country events.[2]
Krzyszkowiak rose to the international athletics scene at the1956 Summer Olympics, where he missed the bronze medal in the10,000 metres by 7.4 seconds, finishing fourth. At the1958 European Championships in Athletics, Krzyszkowiak established himself as one of the best Europeanlong-distance runners by winning both the5000 and 10,000 metres. In 1958, he became the first winner of theEuropean Sportsperson of the Year conferred by thePolish Press Agency.[3]
Just two months before theRome Olympics, Krzyszkowiak ran his firstworld record, clocking 8:31.4 in the 3000 m steeplechase. At the Olympics itself, Krzyszkowiak finished seventh in the 10,000 m, but won, as a main favourite, the 3000 m steeplechase.
After the Olympics, Krzyszkowiak decided to concentrate on the 3000 m steeplechase event, running his second world record in 1961, but was forced to retire from sports prematurely in 1963 due to injuries. After his running career, he worked as a coach.
Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak died inWarsaw, aged 73.
Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium inBydgoszcz was named in his honor.
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's Steeplechase World Record Holder June 26, 1960 – May 28, 1961 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Steeplechase World Record Holder June 26, 1961 – September 7, 1963 | Succeeded by |
| 2500 m |
|
|---|---|
| 4000 m |
|
| 2590 m |
|
| 3200 m | |
| 3460 m | |
| 3000 m |
|
European Athletics Championships champions in men's5000 metres | |
|---|---|
|
European Athletics Championships champions in men's10,000 metres | |
|---|---|
|
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
