Gaston Roelants
Encyclopedia
Gaston, Baron Roelants (born 5 February 1937) was a top steeplechaser
in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic
titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.
Roelants was born in Opvelp, Belgium
. He was 4th in the steeplechase at the 1960 Olympics, and after a bronze at the 1966 Europeans he turned with great success to longer distances, setting world records at the 20 km distance (58 minutes 6.2 seconds) and the 1 hour race (20,664 m) that year and later improving those records to 57 minutes 44.4 seconds and 20,878 meters in 1972. He won a Silver (1969) and a Bronze (1974) in European marathon races. He was the Number 1 ranked Steeplechaser in the world five times (1962–1965 and 1967)
He equalled the record by winning four International cross-country titles (1962, 1967, 1969 and 1972) with three second places and in all nine top 10 placings between 1960 and 1975. His long career continued into his 40s and he won five world titles in his first year in masters' ranks and held the Masters World Record in the Steeplechase for 27 years.
An important December Belgian road race is named after the running legend
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.
Roelants was born in Opvelp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He was 4th in the steeplechase at the 1960 Olympics, and after a bronze at the 1966 Europeans he turned with great success to longer distances, setting world records at the 20 km distance (58 minutes 6.2 seconds) and the 1 hour race (20,664 m) that year and later improving those records to 57 minutes 44.4 seconds and 20,878 meters in 1972. He won a Silver (1969) and a Bronze (1974) in European marathon races. He was the Number 1 ranked Steeplechaser in the world five times (1962–1965 and 1967)
He equalled the record by winning four International cross-country titles (1962, 1967, 1969 and 1972) with three second places and in all nine top 10 placings between 1960 and 1975. His long career continued into his 40s and he won five world titles in his first year in masters' ranks and held the Masters World Record in the Steeplechase for 27 years.
An important December Belgian road race is named after the running legend