Willy Polleunis

Willy Polleunis (* December 27, 1947 in Hasselt ) is a former Belgian athlete, the 1976 Olympic sixth in the 5000 -meter run.

Polleunis was 1968 Olympian, but had given up in the 10,000 -meter run. In 1971 he won the Belgian championship in cross country and in the 10,000 -meter run. He should be in his career more league titles still win: 1973 and 1978 in cross-country running, 1976 and 1979 over 5000 meters. At his second Olympic start in 1972, he finished 14th place in the final after he had run nearly fifty seconds slower than in the flow. Just a few days after the Olympics, he accompanied Gaston Roelants in the world record attempt in the hours of operation; in this race Polleunis improved the world record in the 10 - mile run on 46:04,2 min. The beginning of 1973 he took after his championship win at the first World Cross Country Championships in fifth place. Along with Gaston Roelants, Erik De Beck, Erik Gyselinck, Karel Lismont and Marc Smet, he won the title in the team standings. At the European Indoor Championships 1973 in Rotterdam, he won the silver medal behind his team-mate Louvain Emiel Puttemans. At the European Championships 1974 in Rome Polleunis won his heat safely, in the final he lost a lot and finally came in 15th and finish last.

1976 Polleunis came again at the World Cross Country Championships and was ranked 27 in the individual standings, with the team he won the silver medal. At the Olympic Games in 1976 he succeeded after the disappointments of 1972 and 1974 in a grand finale performance that was his performance justice: In 13:26,99 min he finished sixth over 5000 meters, the first seven runners were only three seconds apart. At the World Cross Country Championships in 1977 Polleunis came in 22nd place. Along with Leon Schots, Erik De Beck, Karel Lismont, Frank Grillaert and Eddy van Mullen, he won with the team for a second time after 1973 the gold medal. 1979 Polleunis was confirmed again with the Belgian team fifth.

At a height of 1.68 m his competition weight was 54 kg.

Bests

  • 5000 meters: 13:23,2 min ( 1979)
  • 10,000 meters: 28:07,6 min ( 1973)
5000 metres Cross country running 1974 European Athletics Championships 1977 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
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