Today We Die a Little: The Rise and Fall of Emil Zatopek, Olympic Legend

Emil Zatopek was a phenomenon. He changed long distance running forever with his training techniques, his times and his achievements. He won the Olympic Gold Medals in 5000m, 10,000m & the Marathon: at the same Olympics! Incredibly he achieved all he did against the back drop of the Cold War and the cynical manipulation of sport by the Czechoslovak Communist regime. As a soldier in the Czechoslovak army, Zatopek was used as a tool to boost productivity at home and the regime's position internationally. There is an interesting internal debate in the book about how much Zatopek worked with the government actively or was simply a pawn. The post-1968 section of the book is in parts heart breaking, as a once-revered athlete is treated appallingly by the state he represented with such success.
It is perhaps the historical perspective which lifts this book beyond the average. Askwith, the author of Feet in the Clouds & Running Free, did extensive research in the Czech Republic and interviewed many of Zatopek's contemporaries including his wife, Dana, herself an Olympic champion. The result is a wonderfully told story of individual passion and commitment amidst a complex political background.

• Publisher: Vintage Publishing
• ISBN: 9780224100342
• Number of pages: 480
• Weight: 709g
• Dimensions: 224 x 144 x 32 mm