T-shirt Zátopek

Emil Zátopek, nicknamed Ťopek, was born in Kopřivnice, worked for Bata in Zlín and got into sport by accident. Originally, he did not think he was strong enough to run. However, he finished second in his very first race in Zlín and knew he wanted to win next time. At that moment, however, he could not have dreamed of his future success.

The runner, far from meeting the ideals of an athlete with perfect style, turning his head, contorting his face and training in military boots or with his wife on his back, made it all the way to the Olympics. First in 1948 in Great Britain, but he triumphed mainly in Helsinki in 1952, where he won gold in both the 5 and 10 kilometre races. He also won gold in the marathon, which he was then running for the very first time. He also broke the world record in all three events. He surprised the whole world and did something that no one else in the world has ever done again. And maybe he never will.

Despite his successes, Zátopek kept his feet firmly on the ground, as he himself said, "Victory is a great thing, but friendship is even better."

This motif is sold courtesy of the Dana and Emil Zátopek Foundation, to which a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these T-shirts is donated.