- In the 1952 Olympics, won gold medals for the the following races: 5,000 meters; 10,000 meters and the marathon (his first). No other runner before or since has accomplished this feat.
- Spoke nine languages.
- In the 1948 Olympics, won the gold medal in the 10,000 meter race and the silver medal in the 5,000 meter race.
- Pictured on a 9kr postage stamp of the Czech Republic declaring him the Best Czech Sportsman of the 20th Century, issued 11 September 2002.
- Officer in the Czech army.
- Long-distance runner.
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