Emil Zátopek was crowded with leading figures from the international sports world. He was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal in 1975. In 2012, he was named among the first twelve athletes to be inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame. A life-size bronze statue of Zátopek was unveiled at the Stadium of Youth in Zlín in September 2014. 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
Sportsperson of the Year (Czech Republic) Sportsperson of the Year (Czech Republic) Sportsperson of the Year () is an award given by the Sport Journalists' Club (, KSN) to the best Sportsperson and the best Sport Team of the given year in the Czech Republic. For the first time it was awarded after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, following the previous trophy Sportsperson of the Year of Czechoslovakia. Since 2000, the KSN has voted also for a Sport Legend. This award has been called The Emil Zátopek Award since 2001, after the first chosen legend, runner Emil Zátopek. Since 2002, Czech Foundation of the Sport