Émile Champion

Émile Champion ( * December 7, 1879, † unknown) was a French athlete who won second place in the marathon of the Olympic Games 1900.

Champion is often referred to in the sports literature as one of the favorites among the runners who took part in Paris in the marathon at the Olympic Summer Games 1900. A proof of this assumption, there is not, because it lacks any performance evidence which at the time of the games only 20 years old Émile champion. Although in 1898 the name appeared in the list of winners of the Champion long distance race from Paris to Conflans on a run over 40 km for professionals, but acted this to be the brother of Émile François Champion.

Its distinctive name, his home race in Paris, in fact be actual success and the fact that one of the few photos of the marathon in Paris in 1900 Émile show champion, are the only factors that make him seem like a favorite in retrospect.

The Olympic marathon took place in Paris at temperatures up to 39 ° C on 19 July 1900. These were for the hottest run in Olympic history. A favorite role had no importance in these conditions. The winner was a previously unknown as runners, Michel Théato. Along with it, and the later Third, Serious Fast to Champion was most of the time the run in a top group. In the end, it was enough for second place with about four minutes behind the winner.

The rankings at the Olympic Games for Émile Champion:

• II Summer Olympic Games in 1900, Paris Marathon - SILVER with 3:04:17 h (Gold to Michel Théato, LUX 2:59:45 h; bronze at Ernst Fast, SWE with 3:37:14 h)

About the Life of Émile Champion, apart from its participation in the Olympic marathon in Paris, nothing is known.