Zatopek, Dana (1922–)

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Zatopek, Dana (1922–)

Czech javelin thrower and political dissident. Name variations: Dana Ingrova; Dana Ingrova Zatopkova; Dana Zatopkova. Born Dana Ingrova, Sept 19, 1922, in Tryskat, Moravia, Czechoslovakia; m. Emil Zatopek (also born Sept 19, 1922–2000, distance runner).

One half of a famous sporting couple, won a gold medal for javelin at Helsinki Olympics (1952); took 1st place for javelin at European championships (1954, 1958); broke world record for javelin held by Soviet athlete Nadezhda Konyayeva (1958); won a silver medal at Rome Olympics (1960); with husband, signed Alexander Dubcek's "Manifesto of 2,000 Words," backing the reforms of "Prague Spring" (1968); when Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia, initiating a two-decade period of repression, her husband was stripped of his army rank and lost his job; both grew old in obscurity until the fall of communism in 1989.

See also Women in World History.

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