zátopek was born in kopřivnice. he finished industrial high school in zlin. he studied at the military academy in prague. his wife was dana, also an olympic athlete. they were married in 1948. in helsinki she competed in jevelin. she won a gold medal at the same day as zátopek. his olympic rivals (friends) called him "czech locomotive". in 1997 he was called the best czech athlete of 20th century. then in 1999, he was declared the best olympian in czech history. altogether he won six olympic medals, five european championship and he broke the records for 18 times. his life credo was: "are you running out of breath? go faster!"