Dana Zatopkova Czech athlete, javelin thrower. Date of Birth: 19.09.1922 Country: Czech

1. Biography of Dana Zatopkova
2. Olympic Champion and European Champion
3. World Record Holder
4. Interesting Facts

Biography of Dana Zatopkova

Dana Zatopkova was a Czech athlete and javelin thrower. She was born on September 19, 1922, in Kolín, Czechoslovakia.

Olympic Champion and European Champion

Zatopkova achieved great success in her career. She became the Olympic champion in 1952 and won the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Helsinki Olympics. She also won two European Championships, in 1954 and 1958.

World Record Holder

On June 1, 1958, Zatopkova set a world record in Prague with a throw of 55.73 meters. This surpassed the previous world record held by Soviet athlete Nadezhda Konyayeva by 25 centimeters. However, her record was short-lived as Australian athlete Anna Pazera broke it on July 24, 1958, in Cardiff with a throw of 57.4 meters.

Interesting Facts

One interesting fact about Dana Zatopkova is that she was born on the same day and year as her husband Emil Zatopek, who was a multiple Olympic champion in track and field. This made them a unique couple in the history of athletics.

Overall, Dana Zatopkova was a remarkable athlete who achieved significant success in her career as a javelin thrower. Her achievements at the Olympic and European levels, as well as her world record, have solidified her place in the history of Czech and international athletics.