songs of experience

A while back I posted a story I wrote for Running Times on three “distant heroes” I had researched with a grant from USA Track & Field (the “Ken Doherty fellowship”). Well, since that time I have stayed in contact with Bob Schul … still alive and kickin’ in Ohio. During our interview, I urged Bob to make video copies of his gold medal run available to ambitious, young American runners. You have to be able to see success before achieving it. Schul is the only Olympic gold medalist we have ever had , male or female, in the 5,000m (and one of only 4 gold medalists in any track distance event. 1904, and 1906 saw Jim Lightbody win the 1,5oo and steeplechase, followed by Mel Sheppard’s 1,500m gold in 1908. In 1952, Horace Ashenfelter took gold in the steelple. And, finally, there was Billy Mill’s long-shot victory in the 10,000m, also in 1964).

Anyway, after waiting 5 years, I am thrilled to offer you a link from Bob Schul, himself, to the television coverage of his 1964 gold-medal race in Tokyo, Japan. The film is a bit choppy, but the commentating is superb.

Enjoy!

Bob Schul, Olympic Champion 1964 5K Gold Medal Race (Video)

1912 Hannes Kolehmainen, FIN 14:36.6 Jean Bouin, FRA 14:36.7 George Hutson, GBR 15:07.6
1920 Joseph Guillemot, FRA 14:55.6 Paavo Nurmi, FIN 15:00.0e Erik Backman, SWE 15:13.0e
1924 Paavo Nurmi, FIN 14:31.2 Ville Ritola, FIN 14:31.4 Edvin Wide, SWE 15:01.8
1928 Ville Ritola, FIN 14:38.0 Paavo Nurmi, FIN 14:40.0 Edvin Wide, SWE 14:41.2
1932 Lauri Lehtinen, FIN 14:29.91 Ralph Hill, USA 14:30.0 Lauri Virtanen, FIN 14:44.0
1936 Gunnar Höckert, FIN 14:22.2 Lauri Lehtinen, FIN 14:25.8 Henry Jonsson, SWE 14:29.0
1948 Gaston Reiff, BEL 14:17.6 Emil Zátopek, TCH 14:17.8 Willem Slijkhuis, NED 14:26.8
1952 Emil Zátopek, TCH 14:06.72 Alain Mimoun, FRA 14:07.58 Herbert Schade, GER 14:08.80
1956 Vladimir Kuts, URS 13:39.86 Gordon Pirie, GBR 13:50.78 Derek Ibbotson, GBR 13:54.60
1960 Murray Halberg, NZL 13:43.76 Hans Grodotzki, GER 13:45.01 Kazimierz Zimny, POL 13:45.09
1964 Bob Schul, USA 13:48.8 Harald Norpoth, GER 13:49.6 Bill Dellinger, USA 13:49.8
1968 Mohamed Gammoudi, TUN 14:05.01 Kip Keino, KEN 14:05.16 Naftali Temu, KEN 14:06.41
1972 Lasse Viren, FIN 13:26.42 Mohamed Gammoudi, TUN 13:27.33 Ian Stewart, GBR 13:27.61
1976 Lasse Viren, FIN 13:24.76 Dick Quax, NZL 13:25.16 Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand, FRG 13:25.38
1980 Miruts Yifter, ETH 13:20.91 Suleiman Nyambui, TAN 13:21.60 Kaarlo Maaninka, FIN 13:22.00
1984 Saïd Aouita, MAR 13:05.59 Markus Ryffel, SUI 13:07.54 António Leitão, POR 13:09.20
1988 John Ngugi, KEN 13:11.70 Dieter Baumann, FRG 13:15.52 Hansjörg Junze, GDR 13:15.73
1992 Dieter Baumann, GER 13:12.52 Paul Bitok, KEN 13:12.71 Fita Bayissa, ETH 13:13.03
1996 Vénuste Niyongabo, BDI 13:07.96 Paul Bitok, KEN 13:08.16 Khalid Boulami, MAR 13:08.37
2000 Million Wolde, ETH 13:35.49 Ali Saïdi Sief, ALG 13:36.20 Brahim Lahlafi, MAR 13:36.47
2004 Hicham el Guerrouj, MAR 13:14.39 Kenenisa Bekele, ETH 13:14.59 Eliud Kipchoge, KEN 13:15.10