Reviews

Quicksilver; The Miracle Mile

By winning the 1952 Olympic 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon – an achievement nobody else has accomplished nor is likely to in the future – Emil Zatopek achieved athletic immortality.

Several biographies have been written on the Czech superstar but Quicksilver, written by renowned English journalist Pat Butcher, promises to be the authoritative version.

The author, who was the 2015 iaaf World Journalist of the Year, was inspired in his youth by Zatopek’s exploits on the track as well as his growing persona off it. Over the years he made several journeys to Prague, where he met with Zatopek and his wife Dana (who famously won the 1952 Olympic javelin gold medal within an hour of her husband’s 10,000m victory).

Zatopek died in 2000. Since then Butcher interviewed many of his contemporaries, fellow runners, political associates and friends, resulting in a detailed journey into the political climate that saw the runner go from national hero to a labourer in the notorious Jachymov uranium mine.

The author has also verified the unorthodox training methods Zatopek was rumoured to employ, such as 100x 400 m on the track and occasionally running forest t rails i n army boots. Once he even suffered a hernia after running while carrying his wife on his back. Then there is his equally fantastic racing schedule. At one point he ran six 10,000m races in a three-month period.

Butcher hasn’t limited his research to Czechs either. Among those he called upon was the legendary Australian distance runner Ron Clarke, who set 17 world records but never won an Olympic gold medal.

During one interview, Clarke related a time when he accepted Zatopek’s invitation to race in Prague. They went for lunch and Zatopek left his car in a no parking zone. When they left the restaurant Clarke thought the car had been stolen. Zatopek whistled and a policeman drove up in Zatopek’s car. Such was the notoriety and prestige the runner enjoyed at one time in his homeland.

The genuine humility of Zatopek is also apparent. As he bade the Australian farewell he slipped a small gift into his friend’s pocket. On the f light home Clarke, somewhat worried he was smuggling contraband for the Czech, opened the gift to find Zatopek’s 1952 Olympic gold medal.

Quicksilver is a compelling read about a legendary figure for both runners and lovers of history.—