5,000 metres, Men

The favorite was the 1948 silver medalist, Emil Zátopek. He had already won the 10K and was also the 1950 European Champion at this distance, having doubled at 5K/10K at that meet. The final was full of action with Zátopek setting the early pace but he four other runners stayed in contact with him until the final laps – Alain Mimoun (FRA/ALG), Herbert Schade (FRG), Gordon Pirie (GBR), and Chris Chataway (GBR). Pirie was broken at about 4,500 metres, with the other four reaching the bell lap together. Chataway then took the lead, followed by Schade and Mimoun. Zátopek made a furious rush on the final curve and took the lead back. Chataway was wasted and stepped on the curve coming to the home stretch and fell. He would get up and finish fifth, passed also by Pirie. Zátopek was not challenged on the straight, with Mimoun holding on for the silver medal ahead of Schade. Zátopek’s wife, Dana Zátopkova, won the women’s javelin gold medal later in the afternoon. Zátopek himself would return a few days later to win the marathon, completing an unmatched Olympic distance triple. Chataway is also well known as one of the two pacers (with Chris Brasher) who helped Roger Bannister break the 4-minute mile barrier in 1954. He would also set a world record in the 5,000 in 1954. Mimoun’s silver was the third time he had finished second to Zátopek in an Olympic distance final – 1948 10K, and both 1948 5 and 10K. He would return to win the marathon in 1956 at Melbourne.