Twice European champion in the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters in the 1960s, Michel Jazy died on Thursday.
France Télévisions – Sports Editorial
Published on 02/01/2024 1:55 p.m. Updated on 02/01/2024 3:50 p.m.
Reading time: 2 min Michel Jazy during a competition on June 24, 1965 in Melun. (AFP)
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).
???? The angel of the track has flown away…
Michel Jazy died this Thursday at the age of 87.
9 world records, 16 European records, an Olympic silver medal, 32 French records, 12 national titles…
A true legend of athletics and French sport has passed away.
— FFAthlétisme (@FFAthletisme) February 1, 2024
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.“
“A huge loss for the world of athletics”
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 following him.
“I am devastated, the president of the French Athletics Federation, André Giraud, told AFP. For the world of athletics and for the FFA, it is a huge loss for everything it represented, especially in this year of the Olympic Games in Paris.”
“Jazy left his mark on our sport with his results and his world records, he was a great figure in French sport”, reacted to AFP Pierre Weiss, former director of the FFA and close friend of the family. “With [le patineur artistique] Alain Calmat, he moved the crowds into the bistros, where there were TV screens, it was something.” he added.
