NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Gaston Roelants

Gaston Roelants (born February 5, 1937 in Opvelp, Belgium) was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965. He had been 4th in the steeplechase at the 1960 Olympics, and after a Bronze at the 1966 Europeans he turned with great success to longer distances, setting world records at the 20 km distance (58 minutes 6.2 seconds) and the 1 hour race (20,664 meters) that year and later improving those records to 57 minutes 44.4 seconds and 20,878 meters in 1972. He won a Silver (1969) and a Bronze (1974) in European marathon races. Subject: The Olympic Rings. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The steeplechase was initially a form of horse-racing, but the term is now applied to similar other events as well. ... The 1960s, or The Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... The term cross-country, when used by itself, can refer to: Cross-country running Cross-country skiing Cross-country equestrianism Cross-country or XC mountain biking Fell running also known as hill running and mountain running This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Olympic Games, or Olympics, is an international multi-sport event taking place every two years and alternating between Summer and Winter Games. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-BÃ©del Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... Although marathon sometimes refers to any athletic event requiring great endurance, more specifically it refers to a long-distance road running event of 42,195 m (26 miles and 385 yards). ...

He equalled the record by winning four International cross-country titles (1962, 1967, 1969 and 1972) with three second places and in all nine top 10 placings between 1960 and 1975. His long career continued into his 40's and he won five world titles in his first year in veterans' ranks.

Categories: 1937 births | Belgian athletes These are the male Olympic medalists in athletics. ... George Washington Orton (January 10, 1873-June 26, 1958) was Canadian middle-distance runner. ... James Davies Jim Lightbody (March 15, 1882 – March 2, 1953) was an American middle distance runner, winner of six Olympic medals in the early 20th century. ... Arthur Russell (March 13, 1886 - August 23, 1972) was a British athlete, winner of 3200 m steeplechase at the 1908 Summer Olympics. ... John Thomas Jack Rimmer (April 27, 1878 - June 6, 1962) was a British athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1900 Summer Olympics. ... Percy Hodge (December 26, 1890 - December 27, 1967) was a British athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1920 Summer Olympics, held in Antwerp. ... Vilho Eino Ville Ritola (January 18, 1896 – April 24, 1982) was a Finnish athlete, specialised in the long distance events. ... Toivo Aarne Loukola (October 2, 1902 - January 10, 1984) was a Finnish athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1928 Summer Olympics. ... Volmari Fritijof Vomma Iso-Hollo (May 1, 1907 - June 23, 1969) was a Finnish athlete, winner of two gold medals in 3000 m steeplechase at the Olympic Games. ... Thore Ingvar Tore SjÃ¶strand (born July 31, 1921) is a former Swedish athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1948 Summer Olympics. ... Horace Ashenfelter, III (b. ... Christopher William Brasher (August 21, 1928 - February 28, 2003) was a British athlete and sports journalist who helped found the London Marathon. ... Zdzisław Ludwik Krzyszkowiak (August 3, 1929 - March 23, 2003) was a Polish athlete, winner of 3000 m hurdles at the 1960 Summer Olympics. ... Amos Biwott (born September 8, Kenyan athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1968 Summer Olympics. ... Kipchoge Kip Keino (born January 17, 1940) was a Kenyan runner. ... Anders GÃ¤rderud (born August 28, 1946) is a former Swedish athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1976 Summer Olympics. ... Alternate use: see Bronislaw Malinowski for the anthropologist. ... Julius Korir (born April 21, 1960) is a former Kenyan athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1984 Summer Olympics. ... Julius Kariuki (born June 12, 1961) was the winner of the 3000 m steeplechase at the 1988 Summer Olympics. ... Matthew Kiprotich Birir (born July 2, 1972) is a former Kenyan athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1992 Summer Olympics. ... Joseph Keter (born June 13, 1969) is a former Kenyan athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 1996 Summer Olympics. ... Reuben Seroney Kosgei (born: August 2, 1979 in Marakwet, Kenya) is a middle and long distance athlete mostly famous for 3000 m steeplechase in which he became the youngest ever winner of a Olympic gold medal in the event when at the age of only 19 he ran to victory... Ezekiel Kemboi Cheboi (born May 25, 1982) is a Kenyan athlete, winner of 3000 m steeplechase at the 2004 Summer Olympics. ...