21 Facts About Michel Jazy

Michel Jazy was a French middle-distance runner and long-distance runner.

Michel Jazy won the 1500 metres silver medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, as well as two golds and one silver at the European Championships.

Michel Jazy's grandfather worked as a coal miner in nearby Ostricourt.

Michel Jazy's father was a coal miner, whereas Michel Jazy's mother worked in a brewery in Lille.

Michel Jazy was raised by his grandmother during much of his childhood.

Michel Jazy was 12 years old when his father died of silicosis.

When Michel was 14 years old, he, his mother and his older sister settled in Paris.

Michel Jazy was passionate about football when he was a schoolboy.

Michel Jazy left school at the age of 14 and became a uniformed doorman and elevator operator at a bridge club near the Arc de Triomphe.

Michel Jazy did 27 months of military service there, but his running career was not interrupted.

Michel Jazy set a national record for the 1,500 meters in 1957.

Yet Michel Jazy was pleased with those Games because he was selected to share a room with the legendary Alain Mimoun.

At the next Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, Michel Jazy won the silver medal in the 1500 metres.

Michel Jazy was ahead of the leading runner of the chasing pack by a body length 100 metres from the finish line.

On 30 June 1965, Michel Jazy took part in a 5000 metres race held in the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

Michel Jazy won the race in a personal best and new European record time of 13:27.6 minutes, with Keino and Clarke finishing in second and third place, respectively.

On 12 October 1966 in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses, Michel Jazy won a 2000 metres race in 4:56.2 minutes, which was his ninth and last world record.

Between 1956 and 1966, Michel Jazy won nine national track titles: two over 800 m, six over 1500 m and one over 5000 m, and three national cross-country titles.

Michel Jazy was chosen as the French L'Equipe Champion of Champions in 1960,1962 and 1965, and was awarded the first Trophee Micheline Ostermeyer on 4 November 2004.

Michel Jazy died in Dax on 1 February 2024, at the age of 87.

Between 1961 and 1966, Michel Jazy set nine world records over the following distances:.