Harald Norpoth
Encyclopedia
Harald Norpoth (born August 22, 1942) is a West German
former middle and long distance runner. Born in Münster
, he won the silver medal over 5000m at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo as a member of the United Team of Germany
. He had already competed in the 1962 European Athletics Championships, where he had fallen and dropped out of the 1,500-metre final. His high quality as both a 1,500-metre and a 5,000-metre runner was proved in the 1966 European Athletics Championships, where he won the bronze medal at 1,500 metres and the silver medal at 5,000 metres.
At the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico Norpoth dropped out of the 5000m and finished fourth over 1500m. He also set a 2000m world record of 4:57.8 minutes in September 1966 in Hagen, Germany. Norpoth remained an international-level 5,000-metre runner until his retirement from competitive running in 1973, because he finished third in the 1971 European Championships 5,000-metre final, losing by 1.2 seconds to the winner, Finland's Juha Väätäinen. In the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, he finished sixth at 5,000 metres, losing by 6.2 seconds to the winner, Finland's Lasse Virén, and placing as the fourth best European. In his farewell run at 5,000 metres in 1973, he set a personal record and defeated Steve Prefontaine of the United States. Norpoth was known as a sharp kicker, although he also could endure a fast pace when he was in peak shape (see, for example, Wünsche; "The Great European Championships Book"; Antero Raevuori, ed., "Lasse Viren: The Gilded Spikes" / Lasse Viren: Kullatut piikkarit, published in Finland in 1976; Matti Hannus, "The Thousand Stars of Athletics" / Yleisurheilun tuhat tähteä, published in Finland in 1983). He is a first cousin of political scientist Helmut Norpoth.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
former middle and long distance runner. Born in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, he won the silver medal over 5000m at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo as a member of the United Team of Germany
United Team of Germany
The Unified Team of Germany , competed in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Winter and Summer Olympic Games as a united team of athletes from the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic...
. He had already competed in the 1962 European Athletics Championships, where he had fallen and dropped out of the 1,500-metre final. His high quality as both a 1,500-metre and a 5,000-metre runner was proved in the 1966 European Athletics Championships, where he won the bronze medal at 1,500 metres and the silver medal at 5,000 metres.
At the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico Norpoth dropped out of the 5000m and finished fourth over 1500m. He also set a 2000m world record of 4:57.8 minutes in September 1966 in Hagen, Germany. Norpoth remained an international-level 5,000-metre runner until his retirement from competitive running in 1973, because he finished third in the 1971 European Championships 5,000-metre final, losing by 1.2 seconds to the winner, Finland's Juha Väätäinen. In the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, he finished sixth at 5,000 metres, losing by 6.2 seconds to the winner, Finland's Lasse Virén, and placing as the fourth best European. In his farewell run at 5,000 metres in 1973, he set a personal record and defeated Steve Prefontaine of the United States. Norpoth was known as a sharp kicker, although he also could endure a fast pace when he was in peak shape (see, for example, Wünsche; "The Great European Championships Book"; Antero Raevuori, ed., "Lasse Viren: The Gilded Spikes" / Lasse Viren: Kullatut piikkarit, published in Finland in 1976; Matti Hannus, "The Thousand Stars of Athletics" / Yleisurheilun tuhat tähteä, published in Finland in 1983). He is a first cousin of political scientist Helmut Norpoth.