Sándor Iharos
Encyclopedia
Sándor Iharos was a Hungarian distance runner. Though unsuccessful in major competitions, Iharos ran world records over multiple distances and is one of only two athletes (the other being nine-time Olympic
champion Paavo Nurmi
) to have held outdoor world records over 1500 metres
, 5000 metres
and 10000 metres
. Iharos was one of the star pupils of the famous coach Mihály Iglói
.
and 1954 European Championships. In 1955, however, Iharos turned a world-beater. His first individual world record (he had already been a part of two record-breaking Hungarian teams in the rare 4 x 1500 metres relay
) was 7:55.6 over 3000 metres
, run on May 14. After this, Iharos broke in a rapid succession the world records for two miles
(8:33.4), 1500 metres
(3:40.8) and 5000 metres
(13:50.8). The 5000 m record only stood eight days before broken by Volodymyr Kuts
, but Iharos reclaimed it with a time of 13:40.6 on October 23, 1955.
Iharos' records didn't last long, however. The 5000 m record was broken again on June 19, 1956 by Gordon Pirie
, and this time he wasn't able to reclaim it. The 1500 m record was first equalled by László Tábori
and then beaten on August 3, 1956 by István Rózsavölgyi
- both fellow Hungarians and pupils of Iglói. Iharos ran a new record on July 15, 1956, 28:42.8 over 10000 metres
, but this was smashed less than two months later by Kuts.
in late October coincided with the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Iharos left Hungary, but not for Australia, citing an ankle injury. There has been speculation whether an injury or the political situation kept him from competing.
Iglói, however, did leave for Australia - and didn't return to Hungary again. Without his coach and mentor Iharos soon lost his record-breaking form. He competed in the Olympics again in 1960
, but without much success.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
) to have held outdoor world records over 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
, 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
and 10000 metres
10000 metres
The 10,000 metres or 10K is a common long distance running event. As "10,000 metres" it is a track event, and appears in athletics events such as the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics; as "10K" it is a roadrace or cross country running event...
. Iharos was one of the star pupils of the famous coach Mihály Iglói
Mihály Iglói
Mihály Iglói was a legendary Hungarian distance running coach. Iglói coached such luminaries as Sándor Iharos, István Rózsavölgyi, László Tábori, Bob Schul and Jim Beatty...
.
World records
Iharos competed, without major success, in the 1952 Summer Olympics1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
and 1954 European Championships. In 1955, however, Iharos turned a world-beater. His first individual world record (he had already been a part of two record-breaking Hungarian teams in the rare 4 x 1500 metres relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
) was 7:55.6 over 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
, run on May 14. After this, Iharos broke in a rapid succession the world records for two miles
Two miles
The 2 mile is a historic running distance. Like the mile run, it is still contested at some invitational meets, perhaps because it provides an easier record to break for meet promoters , as well as its historical chronology. It is largely superseded by the 3000 m and 5000 m, and by the 3200m in...
(8:33.4), 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
(3:40.8) and 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
(13:50.8). The 5000 m record only stood eight days before broken by Volodymyr Kuts
Vladimir Kuts
Vladimir Petrovich Kuts was a Soviet long distance runner. He is alternatively known as Volodymyr Kuts, the Ukrainian spelling, as Kuts was born in Aleksino, which is in present-day Ukraine....
, but Iharos reclaimed it with a time of 13:40.6 on October 23, 1955.
Iharos' records didn't last long, however. The 5000 m record was broken again on June 19, 1956 by Gordon Pirie
Gordon Pirie
Douglas Alistair Gordon Pirie was an English long-distance runner and orienteerer.He was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England and died of stomach cancer in Lymington, Hampshire....
, and this time he wasn't able to reclaim it. The 1500 m record was first equalled by László Tábori
László Tábori
László Tábori is a Hungarian-American former middle- and long-distance runner, best known for equalling the 1500 metres world record and placing 4th in that event at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He is still active in the sport of running as a coach.-Early career and rise to fame:Tábori was born in...
and then beaten on August 3, 1956 by István Rózsavölgyi
István Rózsavölgyi
István Rózsavölgyi was a Hungarian athlete who competed mainly in the 1500 metres.One of the star pupils of Mihály Iglói, Rózsavölgyi entered the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia as the world record holder over 1000 metres, 1500 metres and 2000 metres and was expected to be a...
- both fellow Hungarians and pupils of Iglói. Iharos ran a new record on July 15, 1956, 28:42.8 over 10000 metres
10000 metres
The 10,000 metres or 10K is a common long distance running event. As "10,000 metres" it is a track event, and appears in athletics events such as the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics; as "10K" it is a roadrace or cross country running event...
, but this was smashed less than two months later by Kuts.
Decline
That would be Iharos' last individual record. (He'd be part of another Hungarian team effort in another rarely contested relay, 4 x one mile, in 1959.) The Hungarian team's date of departure for the 1956 Olympics1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in late October coincided with the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Iharos left Hungary, but not for Australia, citing an ankle injury. There has been speculation whether an injury or the political situation kept him from competing.
Iglói, however, did leave for Australia - and didn't return to Hungary again. Without his coach and mentor Iharos soon lost his record-breaking form. He competed in the Olympics again in 1960
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, but without much success.