Another time, another pace

Nobody will ever come close to equalling the records set by Czech runner Emile Zatopek. To have won the 5,000 metres, 10,000 and marathon in record times in the space of eight days in 1952 was astonishing. But when you compare the times of Zatopak to the world record holders 50 years on, it shows how far athletics has moved on.

The Czech runner's record for the 5,000 (14 minutes, 06.6 seconds) is now held by Haile Gebrselassie, who has run 12.39.36. Zatopak would have been well over a lap behind at the finish against the African.

Zatopak's 10,000 time of 29.59.60 is over three minutes slower than Gebrselassie's 26.22.75 world record. That would have put Zatopak around three laps behind.

Zatopak's marathon time of 2:23.03 is approximately 18 minutes slower than the current world record held by Portugal's Carlos Lopes, which would have put him a few city blocks behind. In each of Zatopak's races, there were no African runners present, while all of the world records from 800 metres up to steeplechase are currently held by African-born athletes.