Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek (; 19 September 1922 – 22 November 2000) was a Czechoslovak long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5,000 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. He was nicknamed the "Czech Locomotive". In 1954, Zátopek was the first runner to break the 29-minute barrier in the 10,000 metres. Three years earlier in 1951, he had broken the hour for running 20 km. He
Emil Pollert Emil Pollert Emil Pollert, born Emil Popper (20 January 1877, Liblice at Mělník – 23 October 1935, Prague) was a Czech opera singer at the National Theatre in Prague, in his time the main representative of bass roles. Pollert's talen was discovered by his brother, who in his adulthood financed his singing lessons with Francis Pivoda and Moritz Wallerstein. His study did not last long; he was engaged in Olomouc in the season 1898–1899, following which he was recommended to the National Theatre and immediately accepted. Pollert's voice was strong and granular, extremely resonant, with an extraordinary range, its color