Michel Jazy, legend of French athletics, has died

Twice European champion in the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters in the 1960s, Michel Jazy died on Thursday.

Former multi-medalist long-distance and middle-distance runner, Michel Jazy died on Thursday February 1, at the age of 87, the Sports management of Radio France learned from consistent sources, confirming information from the newspaper The Team. Born in Pas-de-Calais to Polish parents then naturalized French, he was crowned European champion over 1,500 meters in 1962, then over 5,000 meters in 1966. He also broke nine world records over various distances, including the “mile” (1,609 m), the 2,000 meters, the 3,000 meters, and the “2 miles” (3,218 m).

Double European champion, and while the world championships did not exist, all he was missing was Olympic gold, which he missed in 1960 in Rome where he won silver in the 1,500 m, and in Tokyo in 1964 over 5,000 m (4th). Results that left a bitter taste in his mouth for a long time: “My supreme title that I would have liked to have is the Olympic title. A silver medal is not enough. In France and the United States, we only recognize someone if they are an Olympic champion”, he testified at the microphone of Radio France. To franceinfo, in 2019, he recognized: “Yes… I would have liked to be Olympic champion. But it doesn’t matter: I had the recognition of the French public.“

In 1965, he also won the 5,000 meters in Helsinki (Finland), nicknamed the “5,000 of the century”, since he brought together all the great cross-country skiers of the time, in 13 minutes, 27 seconds and 6 tenths (l The current world record is held by Jakob Ingebrigtsen in 12’48”45). He was a legend of French athletics and left his mark on a whole generation of athletes after him.