Ludvík Daněk

Ludvik Danek ( born January 6, 1937 in Hořice, † November 16, 1998 in Hutisko - Solanec ) was a Czechoslovak athlete who was a world leader in the discus 1964-1974. He improved the world record three times and won at the Olympic Games and European Championships a total of five medals, including two gold.

He stood 49 times in the Czechoslovak national team, scoring 37 victories.

He won from 1963 to 1976 a total of 14 Czechoslovak championships. He improved 9 times the Czechoslovak record, most recently in 1974 with a length of 67.18 m.

Due to his stocky figure, he was known as " The Log from Brno ".

Life

Ludvíkův father Ladislav, by profession a boilermaker, died of meningitis, as Ludvik was barely older than two weeks.

His athletic career began as Ludvik skiers. In jumping from the hill he was even second in the South Moravian Youth Championships. However, since his half-brother Jiří operation discus, the desire was growing in him to defeat him, in which he succeeded two weeks after his first attempt with the round disc.

At the age of 19 he joined in CKD Blansko, where he completed his training as a metalworker, sports club " Sparta ". As a soldier in the military service at the border troops he had a throw of 45.27 meters, whereupon he ( Brno ) joined the Army Sports Club "Red Star" in Brno. From 1962, he had his main residence in Brno.

Shortly afterwards, seemed to have ended not only his athletic, but also his career. As a passenger on a motorcycle, he suffered a serious accident a spinal injury and a kidney tear. After five months of hospitalization, he returned against the advice of his doctors at the Brno Jan- Šverma plants in his profession. Discus throw, he ran only a hobby. However, the coach of the arms factory affiliated sports clubs " Spartak ZJS " invited him to a so-called B- training, and it was not long until Ludvik Danek again surpassed the 50 - m mark. In 1961 he took part in the first Czechoslovak championships and finished eighth.

His first international appearance was at the European Championships 1962 in Belgrade, where he finished 9th overall.

In June 1963, he threw for the first time over 60 m ( 60.04 m).

The foray into the world leader he succeeded in 1964. In May, he threw 62.45 meters European record and had followed in August with 64.55 m his first world record. On his second world record in the following year 1965, he surpassed the 65 - m mark the first man of the earth.

In 1965 he celebrated 41 victories in 42 races and won the open American Championships in San Diego.

In the years 1967 and 1969 he won the fight continent Europe - America.

He participated in three Olympic Games and won a medal every time: 1964 Tokyo silver, 1968 in Mexico City bronze and gold in Munich in 1972. The victories width of 64.40 meters he succeeded in the last attempt. Not quite so successful he was at the European Championships. He participated 6 times, but won only two medals: gold in 1971 in Helsinki and silver in 1974 in Rome.

After finishing his sports career he became a coach and official with "Red Star" Prague. In the 90 years he was chairman of the Czech Olympians clubs as well as vice chairman of the Czech Athletics Association.

On the morning of November 16, 1998 he was found by his neighbor dead in his apartment, having previously suffered a day working in the garden faint, however, had rejected a doctor's visit. Danek was buried on the Wallachian Cemetery ( Valašský Slavin ) in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Ludvik Daněks wife Jarka died in 1986. Emerged from the marriage ( Martin) a son.

Achievements

Championship

Records

• 60.97 m ( ER)
• 62.45 m on 10 May 1964 in Vyškov (ER)
• 64.55 m on August 2, 1964 in Turnov (WR, improving only four months old personal best of Al Oerter 1.61 m)
• 65.22 m ( WR) on 12 October 1965 in Sokolov. He achieved this performance in front of 300 spectators at the fifth attempt. When reweighing showed that the discus even 15 g had been too heavy.
• 66.07 m ( WR) on June 7, 1966 in Long Beach ( two years later by Jay Silvester on 66.54 m improved)
• 66.48 m ( ER) on 8 June 1969 in Long Beach

European Championships

Olympic games

Honors

In Turnov every year Ludvik Danek a Memorial Sports Festival.